The Rafah Zoo opened in 1999 and is located south of the Gaza Strip on the Egyptian border. From there, wild animals are repeatedly smuggled to and from Gaza through underground tunnels. Many of the animals have died in missile attacks and wars since the zoo opened. Some of them are still stuffed on display at Rafah Zoo. 49 animals currently live in the zoo in cramped and desolate cages, including five lions, a hyena, several monkeys, wolves, emus, cats, dogs and exotic birds. The poor husbandry conditions, lack of food and lack of medical care have left their mark on the animals. The zoo was last in the headlines earlier this year after four lion cubs froze to death.
has been active in Gaza since 2014. The animal rights group has already evacuated and closed two zoos – Al-Bisan Zoo and Khan Younis Zoo – in the region. The former zoo residents were transferred to own animal protection centers. The zoo in Rafah is also no stranger to the international animal protection organization. In 2015, the zoo owner sold two lion cubs to a local who gave them to his grandchildren. Photos of the two lions in the middle of a refugee camp went around the world. confiscated the animals and brought them to their animal sanctuary in Jordan.