- Title: JORDAN-GAZA LIONS Two Gazan lion cubs find a new home in Amman
- Date: 21st July 2015
- Summary: AMMAN , JORDAN (MONDAY 20 JULY, 2015) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF THE CAGE WHERE THE TWO LION CUBS ARE BEING HELD VARIOUS OF TWO LION CUBS RUNNING AND PLAYING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AL MA'WA FOR NATURE AND WILDLIFE (MNW) CEO, MAHDI QUATRAMEEZ, SAYING: "These two lion cubs used to live in the house of a Gaza resident. He bought them when they were little. It seems he bought them from the zoo. But the animals started to grow and at the end of the day, these are wild animals. When they grow and become bigger they are a danger to the children and neighbours." VARIOUS OF THE CUBS IN THE CAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) AL MA'WA FOR NATURE AND WILDLIFE (MNW) CEO, MAHDI QUATRAMEEZ, SAYING: "There was a decision that the animals had to be evacuated from the area so that they could not hurt anyone. I think that UNICEF had a role in the request because they also considered it to be a danger for the children in the house as well as for children in the neighbouring areas. Therefore the decision was taken that there should be an intervention to bring these lions and put them at a centre so both the animals and people are safe." VARIOUS OF THE LION CUBS RUNNING (SOUNDBITE) (Arabic) MNW VETERINARIAN, ZAIN SHAHEEN, SAYING: "Because of the travel, it was a lot of stress for them. First of all, we have vaccinated them and we conducted a medical check-up. Now they are completing the medical quarantine stage. Psychologically, we try to ensure that they are calm and that they are as close as possible to the way they live naturally." VARIOUS OF THE TWO CUBS EATING CUBS PLAYING
- Embargoed: 5th August 2015 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Jordan
- Country: Jordan
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVA2LLYIBHHQRXE7B0SK0CATY74N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Two lion cubs rescued from Gaza earlier in July have found a new home at a wildlife sanctuary in neighbouring Jordan.
The seven-month-old cubs were removed from the Gaza home of a Palestinian refugee, according to Mahdi Quatrameez, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Amman-based Al Ma'wa for Nature and Wildlife (MNW).
"These two lion cubs used to live in the house of a Gaza resident. He bought them when they were little. It seems he bought them from the zoo. But the animals started to grow and at the end of the day, these are wild animals. When they grow and become bigger they are a danger to the children and neighbours."
Father of six, Saad Eldeen Al-Jamal bought the cubs, a brother and sister, from Rafah zoo in March when the siblings were just three-months-old.
But as they grew bigger and stronger, re-homing the cubs before either they or someone else got hurt became a matter of urgency, Quatrameez added.
"There was a decision that the animals had to be evacuated from the area so that they could not hurt anyone. I think that UNICEF had a role in the request because they also considered it to be a danger for the children in the house as well as for children in the neighbouring areas. Therefore the decision was taken that there should be an intervention to bring these lions and put them at a centre so both the animals and people are safe."
Mona and Alex appear to be adjusting well to their new home, eating and playing under the watchful eye of MNW veterinarian, Zain Shaheen.
"Because of the travel, it was a lot of stress for them. First of all, we have vaccinated them and we conducted a medical check-up. Now they are completing the medical quarantine stage. Psychologically, we try to ensure that they are calm and that they are as close as possible to the way they live naturally," Shaheen explained.
Al-Ma'wa For Nature and Wildlife was established by the Foundation of Princess Alia, the daughter of late King Hussein.
The cubs' future is yet to be determined. Staff are unsure if they will remain at MNW or if they will be transported to a different centre. But whatever the outcome, the young lions will be offered a permanent home in Jordan. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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