Two bears are being flown to Colorado after being rescued from cramped conditions in a Lebanese zoo. "No animal should have to live in such terrible conditions," an animal rights group has said.
The two Syrian brown bears were kept in small cement cages near the port city of TyreImage: Issam Abdallah/REUTERS
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Two endangered Syrian brown bears that had been held in small cement cages for more than a decade in Lebanon will be flown to the United States, where they will then be released into the wild, animal rights association Animals Lebanon said in a statement on Sunday.
The Beirut-based association said the bears, Homer and Ulysses, each aged 18 and weighing 130 kilos (280 pounds), had been living in a private zoo in the village of Hanaway, close to the southern port city of Tyre.
They were freed "after convincing the zoo owner that they deserve better than the small cement cages they were kept in for over 10 years," the group said.
"No animal should have to live in such terrible conditions, without proper food, veterinary care, or housing,'' said Animals Lebanon director Jason Mier.
"For the first time in their life they can actually be bears, with large natural enclosures, and the ability to experience and enjoy their days," he added.
The bears were first driven to Beirut's Rafik Hariri International Airport, where they will be put on a plane to the United Arab Emirates. They will then be flown to Chicago, and driven to the Wild Animal Sanctuary in the state of Colorado.
Animal rescue workers sedated the bears and provided a quick medical check before their journeyImage: Issam Abdallah/REUTERS
Economic and COVID crisis halt relocation
Mier said the bears were likely imported from eastern Europe. The pair had been supposed to travel in late 2019, but banking restrictions connected to Lebanon's economic crisis, then coronavirus restrictions that included the closure of the airport for weeks, had postponed the trip.
The bears were put into large metal transport crates for their relocation to the USImage: Issam Abdallah/REUTERS
Four Paws, an international organization also taking part in the relocation of the two bears, said it had first visited Homer and Ulysses in November 2019.
"Trapped in tiny cages, some smaller than a ping-pong table, the bears had no water, sporadic food, and inadequate shelter from the weather," it said in a statement.
"Both bears not only suffered from malnutrition but also extreme stress."
Syrian brown bears are a small subspecies of the endangered brown bear, but no longer exist in the wild in Syria or Lebanon, according to the UK-based Bear Conservation group.
Ending lion trafficking in Lebanon
Governance problems, an economic recession and cultural norms have combined to turn Lebanese zoos into breeding grounds for animal trafficking, particularly of lions. But a rights group is aiming to turn that around.
Image: Animals Lebanon
Playthings of the rich
Zoos in Lebanon breed lions as exotic pets in shocking conditions with little regard for their fate afterwards, animal rights activists say. Cash-strapped zoos can make real money from selling lions, tigers and cheetahs - especially cubs - to the country's elite during a period where the rest of the country can ill afford the 3 euro ($3.30) entrance fee.
Image: Animals Lebanon/Maglebanon
Campaigning for animals
"Most of these animals are being bought from zoos - which is why we're focusing on them," explained Jason Mier, director of Animals Lebanon. "A zoo shouldn't be selling animals … and that's why there is now a new law approved by the government to stop this illegal trafficking," Mier told DW.
Image: DW/M. Jay
Tragic story
A young lioness was rescued after being abused and underfed. After surgery and repeated attempts to save "Queen," vets finally had to put her down. Out of this, the Animals Lebanon campaign began. No lion that leaves a zoo and goes into private "care" lives more than two years, the group says.
Image: Animals Lebanon
Lack of money
Zoos in Lebanon are in a pretty dismal state, generally keeping animals in appalling conditions - according to Animals Lebanon, "often without food, water or shade." This appeared to be the case at Zazoo City, which had two lions and one tiger, yet appears to be severely underfunded.
Image: DW/M. Jay
Bridge over troubled waters
Without even water for its ducks and geese, it's hard to imagine how a zoo can manage to feed animals - particularly large cats - and maintain the upkeep. Zoo owners, animal rights activists believe, are no longer interested in ticket revenues during this economic slump, since having discovered that animal trafficking is much more profitable - with a lion selling for around $10,000.
Image: DW/M. Jay
Lack of oversight
Of course, not all zoo animals are mistreated. The welfare of zoo animals particularly becomes problematic when governance problems plague a country or region. Animals including this tiger, Laziz, were recently evacuated from the "world's worst zoo" in Gaza, which has been decimated by repeated warfare and a blockade.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Four Paws
Lebanese government takes action
This lion cub was taken from a zoo to be used on a television show. Mostly, however, zoos sell lion cubs to private owners. But such days may be coming to an end. Lebanon's Minister of Agriculture Akram Chehayeb has pledged to use "all legal means to seize any animals from traffickers or unlicensed shops. These animals don't belong in a cage or in a home as a symbol of power or personal wealth."
Image: Animals Lebanon
For the kids
Children are often at the heart of the matter. Wealthy parents buy a lion cub for a daughter or son, without considering how to care for it once it grows to full size. Often, concerned parties alert Animals Lebanon to children showing photos of their "pets" on their phones at school. The group can then take action to rescue the animal.
Image: DW/M. Jay
Monkey business
Zoos are also being lobbied by Animals Lebanon to get their houses in order as the Lebanese government issues ultimatums. This "softly, softly" approach, Mier believes, will be a winner in the longer term. European Union-funded support helps - including sending European zookeepers to Lebanon to talk to their Lebanese colleagues.
