Big news from the animal welfare group Four Paws International as they have recently rescued over 47 animals from a zoo in war-torn Gaza.
The war on the Gaza strip has been raging on for several years now, with local zoos and many animals caught in the crossfire. The Rafah Zoo in particular has become known as a “zoo of horrors” due to the nightmarish conditions in which the animals were being kept.
In January, four lion cubs froze to death at the Rafah zoo due to extreme weather and complete negligence. A few weeks later, a young lioness had her claws barbarically removed with garden shears, apparently so that zoo visitors could play with her. Several other animals have perished at the zoo because of a complete lack of veterinary care; some have even been stuffed and put on display.
An ostrich waits to be rescued at Rafah zoo in Gaza.
This monumental rescue mission has been delayed multiple times due to escalating violence and border closures in the Gaza region. Four Paws knew how difficult it would be going into a war zone, but they refused to give up on the animals. The organization assembled a team of veterinarians and wildlife experts to carry out the daring rescue. It took months of preparation and several attempts before the animals could be safely evacuated.
In the end, 47 animals were rescued, including five lions, a hyena, several monkeys, wolves, porcupines, foxes, cats, dogs, emus, ostriches and several exotic birds. The animals were taken on a 300km (190-mile) journey across the border to wildlife sanctuaries in Jordan, where they can spend the rest of their lives in species-appropriate habitats. The lions are headed to the Four Paws big cat sanctuary in South Africa, called Lionsrock, where they will live in a peaceful and natural environment.
Animals being carried to safety from the Rafah zoo in Gaza.
The Four Paws organization has been active in Gaza since 2014 and has already evacuated and closed down two zoos in the region: the Al-Bisan zoo in 2014 and the Khan Younis zoo in 2016. All of the animals from the previous two zoos were safely transferred to sanctuaries. With the successful rescue of the Rafah zoo animals there are now only two more zoos left in the Gaza Strip. Four Paws International has vowed to continue working towards closing down the two remaining zoos, and bring all animals to safety.
Going into a war zone is so risky and dangerous. Thank you Four Paws, these animals would have perished without you.
Thank you to everyone helping these animals.
Wishing these animals wonderful and happy lives in their new homes!
please God…help & bless these animals.
Thank you for not giving up on the animals! Sometimes people work for years just to accomplish one rescue. Never give up on the animals!
this is so sicken to hear about things like this, it makes me want to cry.this so called human beings are slim balls they don’t deserve to get off with a slap on the hand.
God bless you Four Paws people. You are heroes. I’m sure all the animals are blessing you in their different ways. Thank you.
Its so good to hear when kindness and good work is being done by so few to these animals
THANK YOU FOR COMPASSION, YOUR DILIGENCE, YOUR HEART AND SOUL THAT YOU POUR INTO THIS.! THANK YOU FOR YOUR COURAGE! NO LIVING BEING SHOULD EVER HAVE TO SUFFER SUCH AS THIS – PARTICULARLY AT THE HANDS OF HUMANS………
Thank you rescuers for helping the animals ! Shame on the people that harmed the animals. Shame on war !
Thank goodnes the animals were rescued from that terrorist run hell hole. Those conditions are no surprise coming from a society that uses it’s own women and children as human sheilds, and raises children to be suicide bombers, not tho mention using donkeys as living bombs. Then of course there is the indescriminant targeting of civilians with rockets and the desctruction of thousands of acres of farmland by “fire kites” launched into Israel.