Two lion cubs in poor condition were deliberately hidden by a zoo owner to prevent a ruling from the judge of urgent matters and a confiscation order from the Ministry of Agriculture being carried out.
The case started when pictures started appearing on social media of people holding months old lions cubs. It was determined to be at Zazoo, located in Hazmieh, and a sign on the cage door asked for $5 for photos and $10 for ten minutes with the cubs.
A judge of urgent matters ordered an investigation of the zoo to be conducted by the court clerk, accompanied by a lawyer from Animals Lebanon.
The conditions for the animals — native wildlife, endanger species and domesticated animals — were so inadequate that the judge issued a ruling moving both lions under legal guardianship.
As the young lions were in such poor condition and the legality of their ownership was unclear, the Minister of Agriculture also issued a decision to immediately confiscate the cubs and move them into the care of Animals Lebanon. After the prosecutor signed off, the Ministry of Agriculture’s staff and Animals Lebanon’s lawyer were accompanied by the police to enter the zoo and carry out the confiscation.
The lawyer of the zoo, present throughout the day, explained that the zoo owner knew the confiscation was happening, came to the zoo, removed the lions and doesn’t care about the law. Police summoned the owner of Zazoo for questioning but as of writing, he has not yet appeared.
Animals have previously been confiscated from Zazoo by the Ministry of Agriculture, and zoos were made aware of the national animal protection and welfare law when it was enacted in 2017.
Lions and other animals are sold on the black market for $10,000 or more. These animals are born at Lebanese zoos and sold illegally to the public, smuggled from Syria or through the Beirut airport. Animals Lebanon has cared for 26 big cats confiscated or surrendered by the owner in 14 years, including six lion cubs in the last 18 months.
Violations of the animal protection and welfare law can result in fines, seizure of animals, temporary or permanent closure of zoos and other establishments and imprisonment up to four years.
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