War-Torn Zoo's Last Surviving Animals Rescued in Mosul
April 12, 2017 - When bombs hit the war-torn city of Mosul in Iraq, zookeepers at Montazah Al-Morour Zoo were forced to abandon the animals. As many as 40 animals left behind died from bombings and starvation. Others escaped. Simba the lion and Lula the bear were the sole survivors, but they were starving and living in poor conditions when found in February. A team from Four Paws International organized a rescue mission to save them. An initial attempt to get the animals out of the city in late March failed when the team was stopped at a checkpoint. But after ten days of negotiating with Iraqi military and government officials, the team was finally able to fly Simba and Lula out of the country. They were sent to New Hope Center, the biggest wildlife shelter in the Middle East, where they will continue to receive medical care and reside as a permanent home.
Follow the latest updates on Simba and Lula and find out how to help.
The last two surviving animals at a zoo in war-torn Mosul, Iraq, have been evacuated.
Simba the lion and Lula the bear were found abandoned in their cages in February.
They were malnourished and living in filthy conditions. Lula was suffering from pneumonia.
The other zoo animals were either killed in bombings, died of starvation, or escaped.
A rescue team from Four Paws International provided food and vet care to Simba and Lula.
After negotiating with Iraqi officials, the team flew the surviving animals to a rescue facility in Jordan.
