A young male lion caught in a snare which slowly tightened around his neck

A young male lion caught in a snare which slowly tightened around his neck as he grew older survived for three years as the siblings in his pride kept him alive by bringing him back prey they had hunted.

The lion was first spotted trapped in the snare in Mikumi National park in Tanzania back in 2009 but

about seven attempts of vets to tranquilise and rescue him failed. 

After three years, the cord had become so tightly wrapped around the lion's neck that he was left unable to hunt and his gaping wound attracted flies and infection. But, eventually the lion was found by park rangers in August and vets managed to sedate him and cut away the electrical wire snare.

According to William Mwakilema, Chief Park Warden in Mikumi National Park, by the time he was found he was so weak he was unable to hunt. He said that it's unusual situation because it is natural for pride to kill weak male lions instead of keeping him alive by sharing the food.

William Mwakilema, chief park warden in Mikumi National Park, Tanzania, pictured holding the snare which was slowly garroting a young lion.

The rescued lion has recently been spotted in the park at night after six days of searching. The wound has started to heal and a mane was growing over his back and shoulders.