The New Zealand Herald

Animals in ‘world’s worst’ zoo

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crudely mummifying the animals that died in their care and displaying them”.

The transfer leaves the zoo empty and it will now be closed.

“So many people have followed the progress of our mission eagerly and shown their solidarity with Laziz and the other animals,” Four Paws vet Amir Khalil said in a statement.

“We are happy that we were finally able to close down Khan Younis zoo.”

Laziz’s case attracted particular attention, after it was revealed the near-starving tiger had originally been brought to Gaza from Senegal via Egypt, where he was smuggled through tunnels into the enclave.

He will now be transferre­d to the Lionsrock refuge for big cats in South Africa.

“We were quite worried if Laziz would go into his transport crate without any issues,” Khalil said.

“But the tiger just went straight into the box as if he knew that we will bring him to a nice home.”

In the years after its 2007 opening there were more than 100 animals housed at the zoo, but they were decimated by repeated wars and shortages of customers.

The owners were unable to afford enough food, with some animals starving.

“I am very sad,” lamented owner Ziad Aweda.

“I brought these animals from Libya, Sudan, Egypt and even South Africa to Gaza.”

The nearly 2 million residents of Gaza are also suffering and find it difficult to get permits to travel to Israel, which has maintained a blockade on the enclave for a decade.

More than two-thirds of Gazans are reliant on some form of aid, according to the United Nations.

Hamas, which runs Gaza, has fought three wars with Israel since 2008, the most recent in 2014 in which 2251 Palestinia­ns died, the majority civilians, while 73 Israelis, including 67 soldiers, were also killed, according to the UN.

The Israeli blockade of the enclave and Egypt’s closed border have suffocated the economy, making it increasing­ly hard for Gazans to find money for leisure. — AFP

 ?? Pictures / AP ?? new life at the Lionsrock refuge for big cats in South Africa.
Pictures / AP new life at the Lionsrock refuge for big cats in South Africa.
 ??  ?? Muhammed Aweda, one of the owners of the Khan Younis zoo, prepares a turtle for transfer out of the Gaza Strip.
Muhammed Aweda, one of the owners of the Khan Younis zoo, prepares a turtle for transfer out of the Gaza Strip.

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