Rafah Zoo in Gaza has had a lioness removed along with a few other animals. The feline had her claws removed so that “tourists could play with her”. Yes, this is the level of cruelty mankind has stooped to.
An animal welfare group managed to evacuate the zoo over the weekend and it could not have come sooner.
Making headlines earlier int the year when distressing video footage was released of the young lioness getting declawed went viral, welfare groups called for the zoo to be imminently shut down.
Over 40 animals have since been rescued from the so-called ‘Zoo of Sorrows’ where they were living in tiny cages in terrible condition.
Four Paws, an international animal welfare organisation took the decision to go in and rescue the animals of the 7th of April, removing lions, monkeys, peacocks and wolves from their prison of an enclosure.
The 47 animals were sedated to peacefully make the 300km journey to safety, a reserve in Jordan, with Israel giving the go ahead for the transfer to take place.
Admittedly, the organisation was unsure of how the rescue would go down due to unstable conditions in the region as in the previous week, the borders were closed. Successfully, one day later, they announced that their mission went smoothly and all was alright.
Four Paws has campaigned for months to have the zoo shut down ever since the unsettling footage was discovered.
The unimaginable pain the lioness must have suffered through – all so that visitors could ‘play’ with her will never be forgotten.
In a statement by Four Paws, the organisation condemned the ‘persisting poor conditions’ of the zoo, saying:
“This exposed the persisting poor conditions the animals at Gaza’s Rafah Zoo have to endure. There is no means for proper nutrition, medical care, or shelter, leaving animals neglected and exposed to further brutality and uncertainty.”
He told Reuters, as per the BBC:
“When we raise a cat for a week or a month we feel sad to lose it but what about suddenly losing animals that I have lived with for 20 years?”
Along with full cooperation from authorities, the team loaded 47 animals that day into crates and took them away.
We truly hope these animals will all make a full recovery and be able to live in a well set up, healthy environment for the rest of their days – something each and every one deserves.
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