Gaza, for the first time since the outbreak of the war a zoo reopens its doors in Nuseirat

In the midst of the difficult conditions in the Gaza Strip, life is gradually returning to some simple facilities that carry great hope. Among them is a zoo that has reopened in the Nuseirat refugee camp after being closed for two years due to the war.

Fathi Juma, the owner of one of the oldest zoos in Gaza, says the zoo was established in 1999 and had long been a place of relief and joy for children and families. However, with the outbreak of the war, the zoo faced severe challenges. Staff had to move the animals from place to place to keep them safe, amid a sharp shortage of food and water, especially during periods of famine.

Juma added: “We did our best to protect the animals despite all the difficulties. Now, after the ceasefire, we decided to reopen the zoo to give our children a chance to feel joy again. It is now almost the only zoo left in the Strip.” He noted that turnout has been good despite major challenges, particularly in providing proper food for the animals—especially lions, which require large amounts of meat daily.

Anwar Abu Aoun from the zoo’s media team explained that the zoo had originally been located in Rafah before the war, where conditions were stable. However, displacement forced them to relocate the animals to Nuseirat. He said the current environment does not fully meet the animals’ needs—for example, lions require larger spaces, and monkeys need tree-filled habitats.
He also pointed out that the difficult economic situation has made it hard to provide suitable food, forcing the animals at times to eat improper diets. “We are trying to keep the zoo open because children need a space for joy, especially after most parks and recreational areas have been destroyed,” he said.

Under these circumstances, the zoo operators are calling on organizations and supporting bodies to adopt the project and help provide a suitable environment that ensures better living conditions for the animals and the continuation of this outlet for children.

Visitors, for their part, expressed happiness about the zoo’s reopening. Umm Mohammed Hamid said she visited with her children on the third day of Eid after a long war, adding that the visit helped improve her children’s psychological well-being after everything they had witnessed.

Other parents noted that their children had never seen animals in real life before, only online, making the visit a fascinating and joyful experience. They emphasized that such initiatives give children a chance to live away from the atmosphere of war.
The children themselves expressed great happiness. Eleven-year-old Youssef Abu Al-Eish said the visit brought joy to their hearts after a long deprivation of any recreational activity. Meanwhile, young Sama Hweileh said she felt very happy seeing animals for the first time after parks and recreational spaces had been destroyed.

Despite all the challenges, the zoo in Nuseirat remains a simple yet meaningful attempt to restore a piece of lost childhood—and a message of hope that life in Gaza, despite everything, goes on.

By Salma Kaddoumi