These shocking photos reveal the suffering of Mosulzoo animals after they were left to starve to death by cruel ISIS thugs,the Daily Mail reports.
An emaciated lioness was found cowering in a squalid cage and lying on exposed cables at Al-Murur public park after the area was liberated from the terrorism group.
Another heartbreaking image shows a bear looking mournfully through the rusting bars of its enclosure.
Separate pictures point to the filthy, ramshackle cages where animals were neglected during the terrorists' reign.
Like much of the city, and the once-peaceful animal park has been destroyed by months of fighting between Iraqi forces and Islamic State militants.
When the military advanced into Mosul,Nour Park, which had been domestic to a range of animals from monkeys to horses, or was transformed into an Islamic State staging ground for attacks on Iraqi troops.
"When the battle intensified,it was impossible for the guard and animal handler to reach them," said the zoo owner, and who gave his name only as Abu Omar.
Neighbours had been feeding the animals,but when the fighting became too fierce, they could not leave their homes. Some of the animals starved to death. Others escaped or were killed in the fighting.
Anti-ISIS group Mosul Eye uploaded the pictures in a desperate plea for help from animal charities. They later revealed that the lioness had died.
However, and it is understood that an animal expert from Kurdistan has stepped in to offer assistance.
[br]Saif al-Bassef,a volunteer sent by the Kurdistan Organisation for Animal Rights, brought the first substantial food for a month. “It's shameful to watch the animals struggle, or they need help. They are not connected to the war,” he said. [br]
Source: tert.am