Last two animals of Mosul’s zoo moved to safety

Lola the bear, one of two surviving animals in Mosul's zoo, along with Simba the lion, is seen at an enclosure in the shelter after arriving to an animal rehabilitation shelter in Jordan. (Muhammad Hamed/reuters)

Updated on: Apr 13, 2017 11:40 AM IST

News

Share via

• 
• 
• 
• 

Copy link

• 

1/12

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 13, 2017 11:40 AM

Lola the bear, one of two surviving animals in Mosul's zoo, along with Simba the lion, is seen at an enclosure in the shelter after arriving to an animal rehabilitation shelter in Jordan. (Muhammad Hamed/reuters)

2/12

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 13, 2017 11:40 AM

Simba looks on a military helicopter flying over of the Mosul's zoo. Simba and Lola lived in a once peaceful animal park that has been destroyed by months of fighting between Iraqi forces and Islamic State militants. (Muhammad Hamed/reuters)

3/12

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 13, 2017 11:40 AM

Simba at an enclosure in the shelter after arriving to an animal rehabilitation shelter in Jordan. The park, located in Eastern Mosul, was retaken by Iraqi forces earlier this year. (Muhammad Hamed/reuters)

4/12

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 13, 2017 11:40 AM

They said a shell once hit the park, sending hungry monkeys out of their enclosures. Other animals were killed, died of starvation or escaped. (Muhammad Hamed/reuters)

5/12

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 13, 2017 11:40 AM

Amir Khalil, a vet from animal charity Four Paws who saw the animals in Mosul in February and organised their transfer to Jordan, said the animals were in a dire state. (Muhammad Hamed/reuters)

6/12

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 13, 2017 11:40 AM

At the time, he diagnosed skin lesions, joint problems and eye inflammation in the lion and diarrhoea and bad teeth in the bear. They were on the brink of death. Now they are able to move, they have gained weight. Physically, they are doing better, Khalil said. (Muhammad Hamed/reuters)

7/12

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 13, 2017 11:40 AM

Customs workers carry cages of Simba the lion and Lola the bear at Queen Alia International airport in Amman, Jordan. (Muhammad Hamed/reuters)

8/12

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 13, 2017 11:40 AM

Workers transport the cage of Simba. Neighbours fed Simba and Lola until the fighting became too fierce. (Muhammad Hamed/reuters)

9/12

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 13, 2017 11:40 AM

Workers transport the cage of Lola the bear after arriving to an animal rehabilitation shelter in Jordan. (Muhammad Hamed/reuters)

10/12

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 13, 2017 11:40 AM

Back in Jordan, Lola hesitated to come out of her travel crate until she spotted a green apple - a sure sign of better things ahead. (Muhammad Hamed/reuters)

11/12

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 13, 2017 11:40 AM

The two animals will go through a rehabilitation program that involves hand-feeding them through the fence before being transferred to larger enclosures when their health stabilises. (Muhammad Hamed/reuters)

12/12

View Photos in a new improved layout

Updated on Apr 13, 2017 11:40 AM

The battle for the control of Western Mosul is ongoing. (Muhammad Hamed/reuters)