Animals in the Gaza Strip zoo are starving. As the war between Israel and Hamas continues, food for animals is becoming increasingly scarce. The only zoo in Rafah, in the Gaza Strip, is facing a serious shortage of food, especially for lions, due to the scarcity of meat and the considerable increase in food prices.
The zoo owner claims that some animals died due to lack of food. To feed the lions, Ahmed Joumaa had to resolve to give them “dry bread and wet it with water”.
Dry bread for the lions
“At the start of the war, we were able to manage the situation, then it got out of control,” explains Ahmed Joumaa. Food is not available and some animals have died. For example, the lioness gave birth, but we couldn’t provide her with food, so the cubs died, and the same thing happened with the monkeys and birds. The bag of food, which cost 70 shekels, costs 400 shekels today, and it is not available. The situation is tragic, there is no food, no water, no medicine, nothing.”
For the zoo owner, the lack of food is not the only problem: “The strikes have terrified people, but what about the animals? They are mentally affected of course, and terrified.” Before adding: “We contacted the Palestinian Animal League in Ramallah, led by Ahmad Safi, who himself contacted the Four Paws, and they promised to support the zoo with food by the 15th of the month. “.
While waiting for a delivery of food for the animals, the zoo which had closed since the start of the war reopened to welcome families fleeing the conflict.