Marjan is alive, but not unscathed. Blind, lame and abandoned to the taunts of children, he is a sad symbol of Afghanistan's failure to rule itself in peace.

In the early 1990s, the zoo was on the frontline in fighting between rival mujahideen factions in southwestern Kabul.

One young fighter decided to jump into the lion's enclosure for a prank.

Marjan ate him.

The next day the soldier's brother, honouring the Afghan code of revenge, threw a grenade at the lion, leaving him blind.

That was the worst time for the zoo - the mujahideen ate the deer and the rabbits and its sole elephant was shot dead. Shells hit the main building, shattering the aquarium.

But things were little better when the Taliban came to power in 1996. Unsure of how a zoo fitted with its strict Islamic teachings, the Taliban authorities left it in neglect and ruin.

STAFF BEG FOR FOOD

The zoo's 11 staff went unpaid for months, reduced to begging for food for the animals from local market stalls. Marjan needs 12 kg of meat a day, but often he went unfed.

Ten days after the Taliban fled Kabul and Northern Alliance forces took control, zoo director Shir Aqa is still waiting for news.

"We used to receive money from Kabul municipality, but now we're not sure," Aqa said. "We need money to feed the animals, we need to repair the cages and give them medical attention."

Now there are 19 species in the zoo, down from 40 a decade ago.

Aside from Marjan, two wolves, several monkeys and a bloody-nosed black bear are the main attraction for visitors charged an entry fee of 2,000 afghanis, or five U.S. cents.

Visitor numbers have increased sharply since the Taliban left, with more than 100 people coming each day, but the income of $5 doesn't stretch far.

"I have written some letters to some people abroad to see if they can help us," said Aqa. "We have suffered years of war, but we would like to rebuild this zoo and get some more animals."

Help may be on its way.