Lion and Bear Who Were Trapped in Mosul Zoo Reach Sanctuary Thanks to Dedicated Rescuers

The moment we have all been patiently anticipating is finally here! The bear and lion who were previously trapped in the Mosul Zoo in war-torn Irag have been flown to safety. The Mosul Zoo was turned into a staging ground for ISIS and after most of the animals were either sold or killed, only a bear and lion remained. Thankfully amidst all of the tragedy, there is hope, with many intervening to help the abandoned animals.

One group, Four Paws International, has been working around the clock to rescue the starving bear and lion, named Lula and Simba respectively. As we covered earlier this month, the Four Paws rapid response team rescued Lula and Simba and at the time, they were waiting to be allowed to cross into Kurdish territory and fly out of the country and then into safety.

Amir Khalil, an Egyptian-Austrian vet headed who the mission noted, “They are refugees. It’s our duty to take them to a sanctuary.” After weeks of battling to secure permits for the animals, with Lula and Simba waiting on a dusty roadside for nine days, the two have finally been flown out of Iraq an animal rehabilitation center in Amman, Jordan.

In the video below, Lula steps into her new sanctuary home. This is the first time she has lived in a grass cover enclosure her in entire life.

To help Lula adjust, she will live in this enclosure until she has adapted to her new surroundings. 

Despite being found at the Mosul Zoo abandoned covered with dirt and excrement, Four Paws says that Lula has been really confident. Watch the video below to see Lula happily taking her first bath!

Four Paws says that Simba has been very shy and insecure, preferring to hide in his shelter. Considering all that he has been through, this is more than understandable. 

“This is the beginning of a new life for the animals. From now on, they won’t have to be part of this war,” said Khalil. We are truly in awe of the Four Paws rapid response team for going above and beyond for these two animals. We are thrilled to know Lula and Simba are getting a second chance at life.

If you would like to Donate to help cover the costs of Lula and Simba’s continued medical care, you can do so here. Every little bit helps!

Image Source: Four Paws/Facebook