The Citizen (KZN)

Mistreated tiger gets SA home

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Gaza’s last tiger left the war-ravaged Palestinia­n enclave yesterday with monkeys, emus, a porcupine and other animals from a zoo dubbed the “world’s worst”, heading for a new life in South Africa and elsewhere.

Laziz the tiger and the 15 other remaining animals from the Khan Yunis zoo were driven on a trailer in cages to the Erez crossing before dawn, an AFP journalist said.

The animals crossed the border en route to sanctuarie­s and zoos in South Africa, Jordan and Israel “to provide them a better quality of life”, the Israeli army said in a statement.

As well as Laziz, five monkeys, two emus, two deer, two eagles, two turtles, a pelican and a porcupine were transferre­d, the Four Paws charity ensuring the animals’ welfare said.

For months, vets from Four Paws had been visiting the zoo in southern Gaza to treat the animals and transfer them out.

The NGO says on its website Khan Yunis had “been known as the worst zoo in the world since it became public last year that the zoo was crudely mummifying the animals that died in their care and displaying them.”

Laziz heads for the Lionsrock refuge for big cats in South Africa. – AFP

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