Already tackling the humanitarian aspect of the Syrian crisis that has displaced millions and killed thousands of people, Turkey is now turning to zoo animals in danger amid the ongoing war.
Several animals in a zoo affected by clashes in Aleppo were evacuated in a joint operation by a Turkish animal rights group, the Austria-based animal charity Four Paws, and the Forestry and Water Affairs Ministry, which oversees the national park authority that provides shelter for wild animals. Three lions, two tigers, two bears and two hyenas were among the survivors of the intense clashes in Aleppo and were transferred to a wildlife shelter in the Karacabey district of the northwestern city of Bursa. The animals will be rehabilitated for the trauma they suffered in the bombed-out Syrian city and for injuries they sustained at the abandoned Magic World Zoo. After their treatment, they will be housed in animal shelters in Karacabey. During the second stage of the rescue operation, officials plan to evacuate two more lions as well as two dogs from the Syrian city on July 29.
Speaking about the issue, Forestry and Water Affairs Minister Veysel Eroğlu said wildlife is a shared heritage of the international community and they are committed to action plans to rescue such animals. "Turkey has an important place when it comes to biodiversity. We develop plans for endangered animals. We are preparing roadmaps on how to relocate the endangered animals," he said.
Lack of food and personnel in war-torn Syria left the wildlife in Aleppo's zoo and other zoos in Syria in grave danger. Animal rights activists say the zoo's residents were starving to death. Mohammad Alaa Jalel, a Syrian animal rescuer, called upon the international community recently to intervene to save the animals, releasing images of weak animals seeking aid from humans. Aleppo remains in ruins and is a dangerous place after intense clashes throughout the six-year civil war and access to food has been limited for not only humans, but for animals as well. Although charities exert efforts, access to restive areas where the animals are in danger poses a challenge to many.
In a statement released on Four Paws website, the charity's head for the Syria rescue mission, Dr. Amir Khalil, says the war has taken its toll on the animals and the lack of water, food and veterinary care traumatized them. "Several animals were also killed by severe bombings. There was no way for them to escape this deadly trap. With our mission, we want to spread the message that humanity cannot be divided and that these suffering animals deserve to be heard and seen." Khalil also said that lions, bears and other wild animals can be "a threat" to humans if they remain trapped in desolate enclosures.
Turkey has nearly 3 million refugees who have fled Syria over the past six years. A small fraction of refugees stay in camps while others live by their own means. The country has spent $25 billion in sheltering refugees since the beginning of the Syrian civil war, receiving praise from the international community as the country hosting the largest number of refugees from Syria, accounting for around 45 percent of all Syrian refugees in the region.
