IRAQ: Iraqis find momentary respite from the ongoing violence in Baghdad's al-Zawra park

Record ID: 792105

  • Title: IRAQ: Iraqis find momentary respite from the ongoing violence in Baghdad's al-Zawra park
  • Date: 19th June 2007
  • Summary: (MER-1)BAGHDAD, IRAQ (RECENT, 2007) (REUTERS) BOY WAVING TO HIS FATHER WHILE RIDING FERRIS WHEEL IN AL-ZAWRA PARK BOYS CLAPPING WHILE RIDING FERRIS WHEEL OPERATOR OF FERRIS WHEEL LOOKING UP VARIOUS OF CHILDREN PLAYING ON BUMPER CARS VARIOUS OF AMUSEMENT PARK VARIOUS OF FAMILIES ARRIVING AT AL-ZAWRA PARK WIDE OF PEOPLE LOOKING AT CAGED ANIMALS PEOPLE LOOKING AT CAGED ANIMALS BABOON INSIDE CAGE (SOUNDBITE)(Arabic) QUSAY, PARK VISITOR, SAYING: "The security measures at the park seem very good. The services are very good and people are coming here to take a break. At least they will forget what is outside these walls. Life here is different and when we go outside these walls, we will find other things. They (families) can come here to take a break, thank God."
  • Embargoed: 4th July 2007 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Iraq
  • Country: Iraq
  • Topics: Arts / Culture / Entertainment / Showbiz,Lifestyle
  • Reuters ID: LVA1IMQQ2Z83413F1EYLA4JFGIYN
  • Story Text: Baghdad's once largely deserted al-Zawra park is showing signs of life as Iraqis -- encouraged by a drop in sectarian murders and bombings in the capital -- seek out some much-needed entertainment.
    Although many residents in the city of seven million people are still wary of making unnecessary trips outside their homes, many are now venturing back to al-Zawra to enjoy the gardens, lake, horse stables, theme park and zoo.
    "The security measures at the park seem very good. The services are very good and people are coming here to take a break. At least they will forget what is outside these walls. Life here is different and when we go outside these walls, we will find other things. They (families) can come here to take a break, thank God," visitor Qusay told Reuters Television.
    Middle-aged Iraqis have lived through three wars since the early 1980s: the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, the Gulf War in 1991 which followed Iraq's invasion of Kuwait and the ongoing conflict that began with the 2003 invasion that toppled President Saddam Hussein.
    Umm Mushreq, an Iraqi woman who was celebrating the birthday of one of her grandsons in the park, said that her family trips to al-Zawra provided them with a rare sense of security.
    "We came in two vehicles to entertain the children and entertain ourselves. We are tired of the blasts and killings. Here, we are secure. We want security. God willing, security will spread," she said.
    And in the park, life does seem to have gone back to normal in Iraq.
    Families gather in open spaces picnicking and children gleefully drive bumper cars or wonder at the baboons, lions, bears and cheetahs of the Baghdad Zoo.
    "Most of the visitors come on their days off, especially Friday and Saturday. In the past we used to received large numbers of school children but these days the numbers have dwindled due to fear of the security situation," said Adel Salman Moussa, the zoo's manager.
    The Baghdad Zoo is located in a leafy three-square-block in the heart of the city. The largest in the Middle East, it once housed more than 600 animals and drew 1.5 million visitors a year, Moussa said.
    During the 2003 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, the zoo was severely damaged. Many of the tame animals -- birds, pigs, goats and monkeys -- were looted in the invasion's chaotic aftermath. Exotic birds were sold on the black market and some animals became food.
    Salman added that the zoo has since been rehabilitated and new animals have been imported from abroad.
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