Today marks 13 months of war, and one and a half months of very intense war in Lebanon. More than 3,000 killed and 13,000 injured, massive devastation, and no end in sight.
Over the last month we received nearly 1,000 requests for help. Our growing team is rescuing companion animals in the areas most affected by the war, feeding homeless animals in abandoned areas, and helping people leave with their pets. At the same time we have been urgently trying to send endangered animals to international sanctuaries.
Caring for these animals is increasingly challenging. There is bombing close to one area, it is more difficult and riskier to move around, one road is being targeted, and it takes more time to find food for the animals.
Rescued wildlife stuck
Four lions, two bears, one tiger and one jaguar rescued from a private zoo have a sanctuary in the United States and were scheduled to leave this November.
Six baboons also rescued from a private zoo were to go to a primate sanctuary in the UK this November.
One lion cub, Sara, was illegally being kept and we worked with the government to confiscate her. She came to us in September and could only travel starting 14 October because of veterinary requirements and permits.
Then the Beirut airport effectively shut down late September…
All 15 of these animals are stuck as airlines stopped flying to Beirut because of the bombing. We try to charter a plane but the few planes available are too small and expensive. We reach out to Embassies to try to send these animals on any of the cargo planes that bring humanitarian aid to Beirut. We call every political and media contact to find solutions.
It is even more urgent for the lion cub Sara. She is now 4.5 months old and growing quickly. Sara will go to the Drakenstein lion sanctuary in South Africa. She will be integrated with two lions we rescued earlier this year – Pi and Freya – and have a family for life.
We are still hopeful we can find a solution soon but options are limited. National airline MEA agrees to send her, we get approval to fly her out on one the humanitarian cargo planes that arrive to Beirut, or we try to take Sara out of the country by boat.
For the animals,
Maggie Shaarawi
Cofounder
Animals Lebanon