A private zoo owner in the Gaza Strip has relocated his surviving animals to a new facility in Nuseirat following nearly three years of conflict. Owner Mahmoud Gomaa moved the operation to central Gaza earlier this year after fleeing his original site in Rafah during 2024 operations by Israeli forces. The facility now serves as one of the few remaining recreational areas for local families amid a fragile ceasefire.
The zoo faced significant losses during the displacement from southern Gaza. Gomaa reported that upon returning to his former Rafah location months after fleeing, he found only the remains of crocodiles and ostriches, while three lions he had left in cages were missing. Municipal records indicate several zoos operated in Gaza before the current conflict between Israel and Hamas, but many have struggled to maintain operations due to active fighting and resource shortages.
Current conditions at the Nuseirat site include shortages of food, vaccines, and medical supplies, which have left animals listless and malnourished. Veterinarian Nidal Fadel noted that the animals are being fed frozen meat rather than fresh prey, which he described as a nutritionally inadequate plan necessitated by the territory's broader food crisis. Additionally, Amir Khalil of the animal welfare organization Four Paws stated that constant bombing causes high levels of stress for the animals, who are sensitive to sounds and disturbances.
On a per-household level, the impact is seen in the mental health and recreational opportunities for residents. Parents in Gaza must navigate the logistics of feeding their families while animal owners like Gomaa compete for scarce resources, such as frozen meat and medicine, to keep the animals alive. The cost of maintaining these animals is significant in a territory where human food security is already compromised, forcing caretakers to rely on substandard nutritional substitutes that could have long-term effects on the health of the surviving wildlife.
The continued existence of the zoo sets a precedent for private efforts to preserve civilian infrastructure and wildlife during protracted urban warfare. The knock-on effects include the preservation of animal life that might otherwise be lost to the conflict, though veterinary experts warn that the psychological and physical stress on the animals is severe. What happens next depends on the stability of the current ceasefire; the Israeli military has not yet provided a statement regarding the impact of its operations on civilian facilities like zoos. No specific dates for further relocations or international aid missions were reported.