Gaza lions sent to Jordan after war damages zoo

By Associated Press

Sept. 30, 2014

A Palestinian worker loads a metal cage with a lion inside onto a truck at the Al-Bisan zoo, as a team prepares a transfer for three lions to Israel en route to a better life at a wildlife sanctuary in Jordan after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. Three lions, a pair of males and a pregnant female, were sedated before the big cats were placed in metal cages and loaded onto a truck that transferred them through the Erez border crossing into Israel. Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group said the zoo’s animals were in urgent need of care after the 50-day war. He said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) The Associated Press

A lion lays inside a metal cage at Al-Bisan zoo, as a medical team prepares to transfer three big cats to Israel en route to a better life at a wildlife sanctuary in Jordan after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. Three lions, a pair of males and a pregnant female, were sedated before the big cats were placed in metal cages and loaded onto a truck that transferred them through the Erez border crossing into Israel. Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group said the zoo’s animals were in urgent need of care after the 50-day war. He said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)The Associated Press

Dr. Amir Khalil, Director of Project Development, Four Paws International, sedates a lion at the Al-Bisan zoo, as a team prepares a transfer for three lions to Israel en route to a better life at a wildlife sanctuary in Jordan after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. Three lions, a pair of males and a pregnant female, were sedated before the big cats were placed in metal cages and loaded onto a truck that transferred them through the Erez border crossing into Israel. Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group said the zoo’s animals were in urgent need of care after the 50-day war. He said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)The Associated Press

Members of Four Paws medical team settle a male lion into a cage at Al-Bisan zoo at the Al-Bisan zoo, as the team prepares a transfer for three lions to Israel en route to a better life at a wildlife sanctuary in Jordan after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. Three lions, a pair of males and a pregnant female, were sedated before the big cats were placed in metal cages and loaded onto a truck that transferred them through the Erez border crossing into Israel. Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group said the zoo’s animals were in urgent need of care after the 50-day war. He said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)The Associated Press

Members of Four Paws medical team carry a lion at Al-Bisan zo to transfer for three lions to Israel en route to a better life at a wildlife sanctuary in Jordan after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. Three lions, a pair of males and a pregnant female, were sedated before the big cats were placed in metal cages and loaded onto a truck that transferred them through the Erez border crossing into Israel. Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group said the zoo’s animals were in urgent need of care after the 50-day war. He said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)The Associated Press

Members of Four Paws medical team roll a male lion onto his side at Al-Bisan zoo as they prepares a transfer for three lions to Israel en route to a better life at a wildlife sanctuary in Jordan after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. Three lions, a pair of males and a pregnant female, were sedated before the big cats were placed in metal cages and loaded onto a truck that transferred them through the Erez border crossing into Israel. Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group said the zoo’s animals were in urgent need of care after the 50-day war. He said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)The Associated Press

A Palestinian worker loads metal cages with lions inside onto a truck at the Al-Bisan zoo, as a team prepares a transfer for three lions to Israel en route to a better life at a wildlife sanctuary in Jordan after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. Three lions, a pair of males and a pregnant female, were sedated before the big cats were placed in metal cages and loaded onto a truck that transferred them through the Erez border crossing into Israel. Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group said the zoo’s animals were in urgent need of care after the 50-day war. He said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)The Associated Press

Dr. Amir Khalil, Director of Project Development, Four Paws International, checks lions in cage at the Al-Bisan zoo, as a team prepares a transfer for three lions to Israel en route to a better life at a wildlife sanctuary in Jordan after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. Three lions, a pair of males and a pregnant female, were sedated before the big cats were placed in metal cages and loaded onto a truck that transferred them through the Erez border crossing into Israel. Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group said the zoo’s animals were in urgent need of care after the 50-day war. He said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)The Associated Press

Members of Four Paws medical team roll a male lion into his side at the Al-Bisan zoo, as a team prepares a transfer for three lions to Israel en route to a better life at a wildlife sanctuary in Jordan after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. Three lions, a pair of males and a pregnant female, were sedated before the big cats were placed in metal cages and loaded onto a truck that transferred them through the Erez border crossing into Israel. Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group said the zoo’s animals were in urgent need of care after the 50-day war. He said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)The Associated Press

A Palestinian worker loads metal cages with lions inside, onto a truck at the Al-Bisan zoo, as a team prepares a transfer for three lions to Israel en route to a better life at a wildlife sanctuary in Jordan after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. Three lions, a pair of males and a pregnant female, were sedated before the big cats were placed in metal cages and loaded onto a truck that transferred them through the Erez border crossing into Israel. Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group said the zoo’s animals were in urgent need of care after the 50-day war. He said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)The Associated Press

A Palestinian worker loads a metal cage with a lion inside onto a truck at the Al-Bisan zoo, as a team prepares a transfer for three lions to Israel en route to a better life at a wildlife sanctuary in Jordan after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war, in Beit Lahiya in the northern Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. Three lions, a pair of males and a pregnant female, were sedated before the big cats were placed in metal cages and loaded onto a truck that transferred them through the Erez border crossing into Israel. Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group said the zoo’s animals were in urgent need of care after the 50-day war. He said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra)The Associated Press

Sultan, a 5 year-old lion, rescued from the Al-Bisan makeshift zoo in Gaza, walks around his new cage, at the Jordanian Royal stables, in Fuhies, 20 km ( 12 miles) northwest of the capital Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. A trio of scrawny lions were brought into Jordan from Gaza on Tuesday en route to a wildlife sanctuary after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war. Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting. (AP photo/Mohammad Hannon)The Associated Press

A worker gives water to Shaker, a 5 year-old lion, who was rescued from the Al-Bisan makeshift zoo in Gaza, on his arrival to the Jordanian Royal stables, in Fuhies, 20 km ( 12 miles) northwest of the capital Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. A trio of scrawny lions were brought into Jordan from Gaza on Tuesday en route to a wildlife sanctuary after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war. Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting. (AP photo/Mohammad HannonThe Associated Press

Sabrin, a 7 year-old lioness, rescued from the Al-Bisan makeshift zoo in Gaza, walks around her new cage, at the Jordanian Royal stables, in Fuhies, 20 km ( 12 miles) northwest of the capital Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. A trio of scrawny lions were brought into Jordan from Gaza on Tuesday en route to a wildlife sanctuary after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war. Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting. (AP photo/Mohammad Hannon)The Associated Press

Shaker, a 5 year-old lion, rescued from the Al-Bisan makeshift zoo in Gaza, walks around his new cage, at the Jordanian Royal stables, in Fuhies, 20 km ( 12 miles) northwest of the capital Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. A trio of scrawny lions were brought into Jordan from Gaza on Tuesday en route to a wildlife sanctuary after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war. Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting. (AP photo/Mohammad Hannon)The Associated Press

Sabrin, a 7-year-old pregnant lioness, roars in her cage after being rescued from the Al-Bisan makeshift zoo in Gaza, on her arrival to the Jordanian Royal stables, in Fuhies, 20 km ( 12 miles) northwest of the capital Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. A trio of scrawny lions were brought into Jordan from Gaza on Tuesday en route to a wildlife sanctuary after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war. Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting. (AP photo/Mohammad Hannon)The Associated Press

Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group, left, and other workers move the cage of Sabrin, a 7 year-old lioness, that was rescued from the Al-Bisan makeshift zoo in Gaza, upon her arrival at the Jordanian Royal stables, in Fuhies, 20 km (12 miles) northwest of the capital Amman, Jordan, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2014. A trio of scrawny lions were brought into Jordan from Gaza on Tuesday en route to a wildlife sanctuary after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war. Khalil said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting. (AP photo/Mohammad Hannon)The Associated Press

BEIT LAHIYA, Gaza Strip (AP) — A trio of scrawny lions was brought into Israel from Gaza on Tuesday en route to a better life at a wildlife sanctuary in Jordan after their zoo was damaged in the recent Israel-Hamas war.

The three, a pair of males and a pregnant female, were sedated at Al-Bisan zoo in Beit Lahiya before the big cats were placed in metal cages and loaded onto a truck that transferred them through the Erez border crossing into Israel.

Amir Khalil of the Four Paws International welfare group said the zoo's animals were in urgent need of care after the 50-day war. He said the zoo was badly damaged and more than 80 animals died as a result of the fighting.

Al-Bisan is one of five makeshift zoos in Gaza that have spotty animal welfare records.

Most of the zoo animals in Gaza have been hauled into the isolated territory through smuggling tunnels linking the territory to Egypt. In one famous scene captured on film, Gazans used a crane to lift a camel over the border fence by one of its legs as the animal writhed in agony.

Israel and Egypt have imposed a blockade on Gaza since 2007, when the Islamic militant group Hamas seized power there.

Last year a pair of newborn lion cubs died shortly after they were proudly unveiled by Gaza's Hamas rulers.

Gaza's main zoo once turned to improvised taxidermy to keep its deceased animals on exhibit while another painted stripes on donkeys to try and make them look like zebras.

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