Cape Town - Two lion cubs will finally be rescued from Gaza after a group of animal welfare workers was granted permission to remove them from the crisis area.
After being rescued from a family which kept them as pets, they were temporarily housed in an outdoor enclosure in Jordan. The animals will be relocated to the Al Ma’wa sanctuary for nature and wildlife.
The rescue team had been working on the case for weeks and last Thursday finally managed to gain entry to Gaza. The team is lead by Dr Amir Khalil from Four Paws, an organisation that rescues mistreated big cats from zoos, circuses and private homes.
The two lions, Max and Mona, first garnered attention when photos of them scavenging around a refugee camp circulated on the internet.
According to Four Paws, the cubs had been bought by a father of six from the Rafah Zoo as pets for his grandchildren.
“(But) the new ‘pets’ quickly pushed the family to their financial and physical limits,” wrote the organisation in a statement.
In a statement, Khalil said: “It was very hard for the father of the family, who bought the lion cubs from Rafah zoo in March, to say goodbye, but we are very happy that he finally sees reason. A small flat is not an appropriate place for wild animals and they pose a danger to all humans in their surroundings.”
After the rescue, the animals were renamed Shalom and Salam. They spent most of their time huddled together closely. The female, Shalom, appeared apathetic and weak. Khalil said they were oblivious of the turmoil evolving around them.
A preliminary health check showed that Shalom and Salam suffer from a skin disease, and Shalom has considerable swelling on the back of her head, which probably derives from a stroke. In the “New Hope Centre” – the transit station of Al Ma’wa Wildlife Sanctuary in Jordan – the five-month-old lions will undergo a more thorough medical examination.
Four Paws said the rescue involved an “extensive effort and accumulates high costs”. The mission was supported by a couple from Austria. “Only thanks to our numerous supporters and sponsors for making it possible for Four Paws to provide help and assistance in a quick, efficient and professional way,” the organisation said.
There are thought to be around 40 big cats still in Gaza, according to the organisation. Smuggling of exotic animals is a major problem, said Khalil.
Cape Argus