Animal welfareLion has claws removed at Palestinian zoo so visitors can play with it

Animal rights campaigners have decried the “cruel” practice and stated that it subjects the animal to horrific pain.

Mohammed Jumaa, who owns the park, has stated that they declawing was aimed at reducing the lion’s aggressiveness so that it would be friendlier to visitors. It was tranquilised and had its head put in a shroud prior to the clipping, allowing the zookeepers to hack the claws down further.

It is unclear whether the lioness’ teeth have been left intact, but the information available to date suggest that they have.

Palestinian zoo workers hold up the lioness © AFP

Palestinian veterinarian Fayyaz al-Haddad, reaches for the paw of the lioness © AFP

Palestinian veterinarian Fayyaz al-Haddad, reaches for the paw of the lioness © AFP

Palestinian children look through the bars of a cage at the declawed lioness © AFP

Palestinian zoo woker Mohamed Jumaa plays with the declawed lioness © AFP

Palestinian children look through the bars of a cage at a lion at the Rafah Zoo in the southern Gaza Strip on February 12, 2019. © AFP

The photos published on this site are subject to copyright and may not be copied, modified, or sold without the prior permission of the owner of the site in question.