Animals at a zoo near Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp are exhibiting signs of severe malnutrition and distress, weakened by shortages of food, medicine, and vaccines due to the ongoing conflict. The zoo owner, Mahmoud Gomaa, has made significant efforts to keep the animals alive despite the immense challenges.
Gomaa initially operated the zoo in Rafah, but was forced to relocate his surviving animals multiple times as Israeli troops advanced. He eventually reopened the facility in Nuseirat earlier this year, intending to provide a distraction for children traumatized by nearly three years of conflict and destruction.
"In the beginning of the war people were looking for a way to survive ... and I was looking for a way to save the animals more than saving myself," Gomaa stated in an interview with Reuters.
Before the current conflict, Gaza had several zoos housing exotic animals. However, maintaining these facilities has become exceedingly difficult, according to veterinarians and animal experts. Access to adequate food is a major hurdle in a territory already struggling to feed its human population. Veterinarian Nidal Fadel noted that owners are resorting to feeding animals frozen meat, a nutritionally inadequate substitute for fresh prey.
The war has also taken a direct toll on the animals. Gomaa reported leaving behind three lions, several crocodiles, and ostriches when he fled Rafah. Upon his return, he discovered only the bones of the crocodiles and ostriches, and the lions had disappeared. The constant sounds and sights of conflict also impose significant psychological stress. Amir Khalil, a veterinarian involved with animal welfare organization Four Paws, explained that animals like lions are highly sensitive to disturbances, experiencing immense fear and stress from bombing and ongoing conflict.
Despite the grim circumstances, the Nuseirat zoo offers a rare moment of respite for local children. Visitors like Karam Al-Mazin, 42, expressed that the zoo provides a much-needed escape from the pervasive destruction, stating, "There is nothing except rubble, stones and tents, so children today are bored and are in a difficult situation." Israel's military, which asserts its operations target militant objectives, did not immediately respond to inquiries regarding the conflict's impact on civilian facilities such as zoos and their animal inhabitants.
