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Image: A bear is seen in the cage of Nour Park at Mosul's zoo

World

Neglected Animals Starve in Mosul Zoo

A once-peaceful animal park that, like much of the city, was destroyed by months of fighting between Iraqi forces and ISIS militants.

/ 9 PHOTOS
Image: A starving lion is seen in its cage at Mosul's zoo, Iraq

A starving lion waits in its cage at the zoo in Mosul, Iraq on Feb. 2, 2017. This lion and one bear are the only animals left in the destroyed zoo.

— Muhammad Hamed / Reuters
Image: A lion in its cage looks at a dead lioness in a grave at Mosul's zoo, Iraq

A lion in its cage looks at a dead lioness in a grave.

— Muhammad Hamed / Reuters
Image: A bear is seen in the cage of Nour Park at Mosul's zoo

A bear sits in its cage. 

When military advances began in Mosul, Nour Park was turned from a home for monkeys, horses and other animals into a staging ground for ISIS.

— Muhammad Hamed / Reuters
Image: A sign reads \"Nour Park\" in Arabic at Mosul's zoo, Iraq

A sign reads "Nour Park" in Arabic at the zoo. 

— Muhammad Hamed / Reuters
Image: Children play at Nour Park Mosul's zoo

Children play at Nour Park. The park, also filled with colorful children's rides, is in the eastern half of the city, which was recently retaken by Iraqi forces.

— Muhammad Hamed / Reuters
Image: A volunteer feeds a lion at Nour Park in Mosul's zoo

Volunteers sent by the Kurdistan Organization for Animal Rights Protection brought the first substantial amounts of food to the former zoo in a month.

People living nearby said they had been bringing leftovers to animals, but it was not enough as many people struggled to find food for themselves and their families.

— Muhammad Hamed / Reuters
Image: A cage which was hit by shell, allowing monkeys to escape, is seen at Nour Park in Mosul's zoo

A cage which was hit by a shell, allowed monkeys to escape, at Nour Park.

— Muhammad Hamed / Reuters
Image: Mortar shells left behind by Islamic State militants are seen at Nour Park at Mosul's zoo

Mortar shells left behind by ISIS militants at the zoo.

— Muhammad Hamed / Reuters
Image: A bear is seen in the cage of Nour Park at Mosul's zoo

A starving bear pokes its snout through the bars of a cage. 

"The battle lasted for three or four months. There was a guard that used to come and feed them," the park's owner, who gave his name only as Abu Omar, told Reuters.

PHOTOS: Iraqi Forces Fight to Recapture Mosul Block by Block

— Muhammad Hamed / Reuters
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