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Two Brazilian women fight to save the life of paralyzed lion

Raquel Borges visits her paralyzed lion, Ariel, at the home of a veterinarian where Ariel is being treated in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday July 13.
Raquel Borges visits her paralyzed lion, Ariel, at the home of a veterinarian where Ariel is being treated in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday July 13.Andre Penner / AP

According to AP, the 3-year-old lion has been paralyzed over the past year because a degenerative disease has immobilized his legs. So the 310-pound (140 kilogram) beast he has been sleeping on a mattress in the Sao Paulo house of veterinarian Livia Pereira. She says the lion's white blood cells are attacking his healthy cells.

She has been the paying lion's monthly $11,500 medical bill through donations from some of the 34,250 people who have clicked the "like" button on Ariel's Facebook page.

Ariel lies on a mattress in a veterinarian's home in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday July 13.
Ariel lies on a mattress in a veterinarian's home in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Wednesday July 13.Andre Penner / AP