Ethiopia ? A zoo in Ethiopia has been poisoning rare Abyssinian lion cubs and selling them to taxidermists because they can’t afford to care for the animals, the facility’s administrator said Wednesday.

The lions are famous for their black manes, are smaller than other lions and are revered in Ethiopia where they adorn statues and the national currency. Wildlife experts estimate only 1,000 of the animals remain in the wild.

“These animals are the pride of our country, but our only alternative right now is to send them to the taxidermist,” said Muhedin Abdulaziz, who heads the Lion Zoo in the capital, Addis Ababa.

The Lion Zoo has poisoned six cubs so far this year, Abdulaziz said, adding that the practice has been going on at least since he arrived two years ago. He did not say how many cubs have been killed over the years.

Animal conservation groups expressed outrage at the killings.

James Isiche, regional director of the International Fund for Animal Welfare in Nairobi, Kenya, said the zoo should prevent the animals from breeding if it can’t care for them. “Enforcement to protect these animals is critical,” he said.