The Last Tiger Of The "Worst Zoo In The World" Was Starved For Two Months Waiting For Rescue But Now He's Living In A Sanctuary
For the most part, zoos are the only safe places we, humans, can go to in order to see typically wild animals. Zoos are especially popular for families with children.
They give children the opportunity to see real-life versions of the animals they only see in their books. Zoos can also provide awareness of the harsh realities some of the animals face in their natural habitats.
Knowledgeable animal zookeepers can educate us on how we can contribute to different conservation efforts for the benefit of the animals. Generally, zoos are wholesome family fun places where adults and children alike can learn a thing or two.
On the flip side, zoos are also the birthing grounds of controversy. There have been several zoos all over the world that have been called out for the way they treat the animals under their care.
Countless documentaries have been made showing just how terrible the conditions are once the gate closes. The wild animals are kept in cages and aquariums that are too small for their kind.
In the worst-case scenarios, animals are forced to fend for themselves. They are horribly abused, mistreated, and sometimes even starved.
This is how Four Paws International found a tiger in the worst shape of his life. The lone big cat was found in the dilapidated Khan Younis Zoo near the Gaza Strip.
The zoo was partially damaged by bombs caused by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Laziz, a tiger, was the lone big cat that managed to stay alive in the run-down facility
Out of the hundreds of animals in the zoo, only 15 remained alive. Laziz was one of them.
Once the conflict reached to a head, the zoo staff fled, leaving the animals without food or water
Most of the animals were found by the Four Paws Organization already mummified and emaciated
Dr. Amir Khalil, a veterinary surgeon working with Four Paws said that Laziz was kept in his enclosure for 2 months without food.
The sad thing was he had to stay in his enclosure with the mummified remains of his mate
Laziz was finally rescued by the organization and moved to the Lionsrock Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa
His new home gives him more room to stretch his paws as it is 1,000 bigger than the enclosure he was kept on
Laziz was quite the superstar when he arrived at the big cat sanctuary
Despite the horrific events he had to go through, Laziz was adjusting quite well to his new home
The sanctuary is fully equipped to care for a traumatized animal like Laziz
He actually gained a significant amount of weight since his rescue
It will take a while for the scars of his past to turn into vague memories but Laziz has proven himself to be a fighter
He looks more free in the Lionsrock Sanctuary
His experiences at the now-closed Khan Younis Zoo are not the only heartbreaking parts of Laziz's life.
As a cud, he was smuggled across the border from Egypt and was raised in the confines of the Khan Younis Zoo
Here's to hoping that the Lionsrock Sanctuary will give Laziz a better and happier life
You can watch Laziz play around his new home:
Watch a short clip of their rescue below:
There is no denying that Laziz had a long, difficult life. Even as a young cub, he was already subjected to the worst treatment from humans.
No animal deserves to be treated the way Laziz has been treated. Thanks to the undying efforts of everyone at Four Paws, Laziz will now have a second chance at a significantly better life.
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