Animal
handlers at a Gaza zoo are ripping their lion cubs' claws out so that they can
play with children - but are leaving their teeth intact.
The
procedure has left one lioness distressed as she is left pawing at a tree and
hugged by a 12-year-old, according to the Sun.
The
14-month-old lioness, called Falestine, lives at the zoo in Rafah, a
Palestinian city in the southern Gaza Strip. She had to endure having her claws
being surgically removed.
The
operation was carried out by the zoo vet, despite them not having the correct
facilities to carry out such a procedure.
Owner
Mohammed Jumaa, 53, explaining: "I'm trying to reduce the aggression of
the lioness so it can be friendly with visitors."
The
procedure of removing Falenstine's claws took place in the zoo by the vet.
Credit: Shutterstock
Guests were
kept at a distance as Falestine roamed around her enclosure for the first time
since the procedure, which took place two weeks ago.
She
attempted to scratch at a tree but was obviously unable to do so with her
claw-less paws.
A 12-year-old
little boy played with her and said he wasn't scared of the lioness. The Sun
reported that he said: "I am happy because I played with the lion and it
did not bite me or tear my clothes.
"My
friends saw the pictures I posted on Facebook and WhatsApp."
The lioness
can be seen lying on the floor with bandages around her front paws. Credit:
Shutterstock
The vet,
Fayez al-Haddad, who carried out the op on Falestine said: "The claws were
cut so that they would not grow fast and visitors and children could play with
her.
"We
want to bring smiles and happiness to children, while increasing the number of
visitors to the park, which suffers from high expenses.
"(The
lioness) does not lose its innate nature."
And people
are not happy about the process, dubbing it animal abuse. One person said:
"That's actually fucked, kids can look they don't need to touch every damn
animal."
We are completely against zoos of all kind and against taking animals out of their natural habitat for the pleasure and entertainment of people, let alone removing their claws intentionally to let kids and other people get close and pet the lions, ..— StraysofGaza (@straysof) February 6, 2019
Another
added: "Do the same with the zookeepers finger nails, whilst
conscious".
And a third
commented: "Fucking disgusted this is animal cruelty.Am not happy."
Someone else
posted: "Thought zoos were supposed to look after animals not torture
them".
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Image Credit: Shutterstock
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