Zoo’s abandoned animals turn to mummified stone statues

The Khan Younis – becoming notorious as by far the globe's worst zoo – was abandoned when the Gaza-Israel conflict intensified in the Middle East in 2014.

Mohammed Awaida opened the South Forest Park complex in 2007 and apparently invested hundreds of thousands of dollars.

But problems began a year later when rocket attacks on Israel denied him access to feed the starving beasts.

The fighting has also left more than 80 animals dead at the Al-Bisan zoo in Beit Lahia.

"Khan Younis is one of the worst zoos in the world," said Dr. Amir Khalil, speaking to Israeli news source Haaretz.

"It's less than a zoo. It's a prison."

Dr Khalil, project manager of international animal welfare group Four Paws, says his team have been aiding over 100 animals at three Gaza zoos and have been giving veterinary care for 40 animals at Khan Younis.

The United Nations says 2,205 people were killed in the 2014 Gaza conflict – 67% of them civilians.

(dailystar.co.uk)