The lion cubs, a few months old, at the Zazoo Zoo in Hazmieh. (Credit: Photo provided by Animals Lebanon)
The Lebanese Agriculture Ministry ordered the confiscation of two abused lion cubs at the Zazoo City zoo in Hazmieh on Thursday, after photos of the young cubs, just a few months old, being held in the arms of visitors, circulated on social media. Following an alert last week, the Animals Lebanon association immediately launched an investigation with the support of its lawyers. Despite a police summons, the zoo owner and the felines are still missing.
The information collected by Animals Lebanon was presented to a summary judge on Tuesday, who immediately ordered an inspection, according to the association’s lawyer, Mounir Zoghbi, as reported by L'Orient-Le Jour. Present at the zoo on Wednesday for that purpose, he told us he noted “atrocious smells, horses eating their own feces because of a lack of food, a lion, a lioness and a tiger that were skeletal, and other animals confined to cages far too small for their size.”
He also observed the “alarming” condition of the two lion cubs. The lawyer specified: “The owner claims the felines were born in the zoo, which is prohibited by law and must be reported to the Agriculture Ministry.” According to the investigation, most of the documents ensuring the zoo’s legal operation could not be found, and the few presented by the owner confirmed “the absence or delay in vaccination” for most animals, with the last health certificate “dating to October 2017,” Zoghbi adds.
Informed of these facts, the Ministry decided Thursday on the immediate confiscation of the lion cubs, which were to be entrusted to Animals Lebanon, due to the “worrying” state of the premises and the “legal uncertainty surrounding their detention.” Accompanied by the police, ministry agents and Zoghbi went to the zoo to seize the cubs, to no avail.
A spokesperson for the association explained to L’Orient-Le Jour that the owner, “alerted by the decision of the judge and Ministry, removed the lion cubs and has not been seen since.” The zoo’s lawyer, who was present, allegedly stated that “the owner ... does not care about the law.” The owner was summoned by the police for questioning but did not appear. “He has been summoned again for next Monday, and a search notice will be published if he does not show up,” Zoghbi said.
For now, “Animals Lebanon can only monitor and report on the situation,” the spokesperson regretted. “We hope the owner eventually turns himself in and returns the cubs, while also improving the zoo’s conditions and animal treatment,” he told L’Orient-Le Jour. “But the ministry and our team will not let this go,” assured the lawyer.
Zazoo has already been the subject of controversy, and animals have previously been confiscated in accordance with existing laws. Animals Lebanon recalls. The association cites articles 24, 25, and 26 of the animal welfare law, which provide for the seizure of abused animals, fines, temporary or permanent closure of businesses and prison terms of up to four years. Additional sanctions may be imposed under judicial or police procedures, independently of this law.
According to Animals Lebanon, lions and other animals are often sold on the black market for $10,000 or more. They are born in Lebanese zoos or smuggled in illegally via Syria's or Beirut's airport.
This article was translated from L'Orient-Le Jour.
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