An activist has released footage showing a 14-month-old lioness called Falestine being declawed in a Zoo in Gaza, sparking an international reaction of anger toward the practice. In the video, Palestinian veterinarian Fayyaz al-Haddad is seen clipping off the lioness' claws through the use of a pair of wire cutters and a pair of sheers. Fayyaz told Fox news that,
"The claws were cut so that they would not grow fast and visitors and children could play with her,"
One of Many: A face of Sorrow. This 14-month-old lioness suffered unimaginable cruelty after she was declawed with garden shears in an amateur & dangerous medical procedure. With our help she’ll be rehabilitated by a team of specialized veterinarians https://t.co/9BZkjiNg4d pic.twitter.com/OTw5yTnCIv
— FOUR PAWS USA (@FOURPAWSUSA) March 24, 2019
"We want to bring smiles and happiness to children while increasing the number of visitors to the park, which suffers from high expenses, it does not lose its innate nature," he said.
Animal rights advocates activists, however, disagree. Animal charity, Four Paws has explained:
"For big cats, removing the claws is a particularly vicious procedure which causes long-lasting damage. Natural behavior, such as grabbing food or climbing, is hardly possible without an animal’s claws. Since the amputation was not done in a proper vet clinic, the chance of infection is high."
The video footage is truly disturbing and makes one wonder how a veterinarian like Fayyaz al-Haddad, who is meant to treat animals rather than torturing and depriving them of their basic survival assets that were given to them by nature, -how does he, stand up to his moral duty as a doctor and whether he should be allowed to carry on his practice.
⚠️SHOCKING footage revealed: young lioness brutally mutilated!
— FOUR PAWS (@fourpawsint) February 14, 2019
The owner of the oldest zoo in Gaza allows visitors to play with this lioness & therefore cruelly removed her claws with garden shears! We strongly demand the closure of the zoo! #SaveGazaAnimals pic.twitter.com/t2gJoxKJTB
The particular zoo in Gaza has often been accused of mistreating animals. Shortly after the video was released, the zoo had to shut down after four lion cubs froze to death.
In a statement to the AFP, Four Paws and head of mission Amir Khalil stated that the group was happy to see that the zoo was finally closing.
"For far too long, the animals of Rafah Zoo have had to live under unimaginably dreadful conditions. We are happy to finally put an end to this horror," Khalil said.
All of the animals that were kept in the zoo at the time of the closure, including five lions, several hyenas and porcupines, are relocated to animal sanctuaries in Jordan.
Image credits: Image credit: FOUR PAWS USA
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