But what caught my notice the other day raises the levels of retardedness to an new high.

This is a real life story that happened in the Kabul zoo in 1993. Despite the funny sad way that it played out, it is a story that has all the nuances of a successful motion picture. 

Without doubt, Afghanistan has had a turbulent history, starting off as one of the pioneers of art and exquisiteness and ending up as mere rubble in the hands of the Taliban. One of those places of noteworthy interest gone into ruins in their hands has been the Kabul Zoo. 

What began in 1979, as a slow decimation by the occassional rockets during the civil war, become an unmindful killing spree of all animals when the Mujahideens took over. However, it was soon pointed out to them that Prophet Muhammed(pbuh) was an adorer of animals and would have scorned on any cruelty towards them.

And so, for the time being the Afghan soldiers let the animals be. 

But in 1993, an Afghan soldier (who for lack of appropriate words, can only be described as a prick), wanted to prove his courage to the fellow soldiers. He climbed into the cage of Kabul Zoo's most famous inhabitant - Marjan the lion. 

The prick made his way to Marjan's lioness, Chucha and in an attempt at foolish bravado, tickled her belly. He then turned to wave at his friends. 

It turned out to be the last thing he ever did. 

Lions, unlike the soldiers, have integrity. They will not sit around when their loved ones are attacked. Marjan pounced upon the stupid prick and tore him to bits. He was dead in minutes. I can only assume that the rest of the prick's friends panicked, went around in circles and finally scattered like a bunch of flies. 

This is where the story should have ended. Unfortunately in real life, even true bravery has repercussions. 

The prick had a brother who returned the next day to take revenge. He threw a grenade into Marjan's cage. The lion, assuming it was food and not really understanding the vengeful malice that lies at the heart of men  jumped upon the grenade. 

In the explosion that followed, Marjan the lion, lost an eye, had its face badly mutilated and jagged ends of  shrapnel pierced in its jaws and mouth. 

In the battle of man against beast, man had won. He was after all, a beast armed with weapons. 

And yet all wasn't lost. 

At the time of the explosion, there was a photojournalist called Swen Conrad in the same zoo who witnessed the entire incident. He did something remarkable - Something that instills faith in humanity and insists to our goodness that all is not lost. 

He ran into the cage and assisted in restraining Marjan the lion and provided first aid. Curiously, the lion seemed to understand that this stranger was helping it. It did not resist much. 

After first aid and further treatment, the lion, though partially blinded managed to live for another 11 years till 2002. It is said that the man who threw the grenade is still serving time.