A 'zebra' at the zoo in Gaza City /PA pics

The owner of the Marah Land zoo in Gaza City said he had used masking tape and black hair dye, applied with a paint-brush, to disguise the white females.

Mohammed Bargouthi said it would have cost him more than £25,000 to bring in a real zebra via smuggling tunnels.

"The first time we used paint but it didn't look good," said Mr Bargouthi.

"The children don't know, so they call them zebras and they are happy to see something new."

All the real animals at the zoo, including monkeys and a tigress, had been smuggled under the border at great expense, he said.

Two genuine zebras died of starvation earlier this year during the Israeli military offensive, he added.

The animal restrictions are part of the Israeli blockade of Gaza, imposed in an attempt to reduce rocket attacks and weaken the leadership of Hamas. -- Courtesy of Ananova.Com

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Disgraceful
written by JL Howard , October 12, 2009

The fact that the real zebras starved to death and these photographs show what appears to be an emaciated animal says it all. These people shouldn't be keeping zoo animals during this political nightmare. The animals are more deserving than that. Smuggling animals is wrong and dangerous to them. I agree it is important for people to see the animals to appreciate their species and support the efforts to save them BUT this is just wrong in so many ways...

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UK donkey charity trying to help
written by Wendy , October 15, 2009

The worst part about the situation is that the news footage clearly showed the donkeys being hit by small children. Unfortunately, the abuse of donkeys is no rare thing. This is why British-registered charity Safe Haven for Donkeys in the Holy Land (www.safehaven4donkeys.org)was set up some 9 years ago. Today, the charity is caring for 120 donkeys at its 4 acre Israeli sanctuary, as well as providing free veterinary clinics and education sessions in towns and villages on both sides of the Palestinian border.

We will of course be contacting the zoo to encourage them to ensure that the animals are treated humanely. However, as long as they remain fed and sheltered, sadly they are probably in a better situation than many of the donkeys of the Holy Land.

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