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 where we, humans, can go to see typically wild animals. Zoos are especially popular among families with children.
They provide children with the opportunity to see real-life versions of the animals they only encounter in their books. Zoos can also raise awareness of the harsh realities some animals face in their natural habitats.
Knowledgeable animal zookeepers can educate us on how we can contribute to various conservation efforts for the benefit of the animals. Generally, zoos are wholesome, family-friendly places where adults and children alike can learn a thing or two.
On the flip side, zoos are also breeding grounds for controversy. Several zoos around the world have been criticized 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. Wild animals are kept in cages and aquariums that are too small for their species.
In the worst-case scenarios, animals are forced to fend for themselves. They are horrifically 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 discovered in the dilapidated Khan Younis Zoo near the Gaza Strip.
The zoo was partially damaged by bombs due to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict
Laziz, a tiger, was the only big cat that managed to survive in the rundown facility
Out of the hundreds of animals in the zoo, only 15 remained alive, and Laziz was one of them.
Once the conflict reached a head, the zoo staff fled, leaving the animals without food or water.
Most of the animals found by the Four Paws Organization were already mummified and emaciated.
Dr. Amir Khalil, a veterinary surgeon working with Four Paws, stated that Laziz was kept in his enclosure for two months without food.
The sad thing was that 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 provides him with more room to stretch his paws, as it is 1,000 times bigger than the enclosure he was kept in.
Laziz was quite the superstar when he arrived at the big cat sanctuary.
Despite the horrific events he endured, Laziz was adjusting quite well to his new home.
The sanctuary is fully equipped to care for a traumatized animal like Laziz.
He has actually gained a significant amount of weight since his rescue.
It will take a while for the scars of his past to fade into vague memories, but Laziz has proven himself to be a fighter.
He looks freer 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 cub, he was smuggled across the border from Egypt and raised in the confines of the Khan Younis Zoo.
Here's to hoping that the Lionsrock Sanctuary will provide Laziz with a better and happier life.
You can watch Laziz play around his new home:
Watch a short clip of his 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 unwavering efforts of everyone at Four Paws, Laziz will now have a second chance at a significantly better life.
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