Orang-utans and lion latest victims of China milk scandal

China's zoo animals have become the latest victims of the contaminated milk scandal that has killed four infants and left more than 50,000 children ill.

Two baby orang-utans and a lion cub at Hangzhou safari park, near Shanghai, have developed kidney stones after being fed milk powder for more than a year. Two young gorillas at the park are also showing early signs of kidney stones.

The animals were sent for check-ups after their keepers became concerned about their health. They had been fed with milk powder made by Sanlu Group, which is at the heart of the contamination scandal.



"The milk powder crisis made us very worried about the health situation of baby animals," said Ju Lijia, of Hangzhou safari park. "We stopped feeding with Sanlu after it was found to be tainted."

The orang-utans and lion are the only animals to have developed kidney stones. The gorillas have been diagnosed with crystallisation in their urine – an early sign of kidney stones.

"The crystallisation now is very small, but it will grow bigger and then block the urine," Zhang Xu, who has been treating the animals, said. "No visible stones have been found so far."