CHECKPOINT BAGHDAD

A Tale of Two Tigers

Baghdad's zoo gets a new guest, healing some old wounds.

By Rod Nordland | Newsweek Web Exclusive

Aug 8, 2008 | Updated: 4:45 p.m. ET Aug 8, 2008

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Discuss

Posted By: Fayruz @ 08/14/2008 4:37:38 AM

Comment: I think this is an important story. Earlier this year, I interviewed Lawrence Anthony, the South African conservationist who rescued zoo animals when the war was in its infancy. Iraqi zookeepers and helpers, as well as American soldiers, moved heaven and earth to help feed and water these animals...it was something of a mission for them. My husband is an Iraqi refugee - nobody knows better than we do how war affects people - but every story of this nature is heartening. People need something to hold on to. I applaud Newsweek!
Posted By: Slave of The Subduer @ 08/12/2008 3:55:46 AM

Comment: What the hel* is Newsweek reporting, f**king tigers, who gives a damn. Hundreds of thousands dead in in iraq because of this war, and reporters write sh** on mongrel tigers.
- Posted By: jmathis@anasazisoftware.com @ 10/30/2008 6:30:28 PM
  
  Comment: This is in regards to what "Slave of the..."had to say: In the end this was NOT a story about f***ing Tigers, you idiot, it was actually about another AMERICAN SOLDIER that died! You are right about one thing..hundreds have died in Iraq and this soldier was one of them! I suggest you read the whole story before you comment next time!! Sincerely, Sad Sister of a Soldier*
Posted By: libba @ 08/11/2008 6:42:53 PM

Comment: Not too long ago, a tiger at the Baghdad Zoo was reportedly shot to death. After all of the unimaginable tragedies that have befallen the animals there, it is truly incredible that the US government would allow the export of live tigers to a concrete jungle in a war zone.

This move is inhumane and lacks any conservation value. Iraq remains an unstable country, still besieged by violent conflict. Animals in captivity suffer; they live in unnatural conditions, often behind bars and on concrete, and without attention to their biological and ecological needs. And that may be the case in well-funded Western zoos. Imagine what those tigers will experience adding gunfire and explosions to their environmental instability.

There are currently huge humanitarian and infrastructural challenges in Baghdad and across the country that require global attention. Survival is a daily ordeal ??? water shortages, power outages, security concerns, education and health needs still unmet. Stocking the Baghdad Zoo surely should be low on the priority list.
Since 1900, 95% of the world???s tigers have disappeared. There are more in captivity in the US than remain in the wild. Breeding tigers and shipping them to zoos around the world should not be our priority. Protecting their habitat and stopping poaching should be. That???s real conservation.

It is truly ironic that we could celebrate the liberation of Iraq with the incarceration of wild animals.

Will Travers
CEO, Born Free USA united with Animal Protection Institute
www.bornfreeusa.org
Posted By: libba @ 08/11/2008 6:41:09 PM

Comment: Not too long ago, a tiger at the Baghdad Zoo was reportedly shot to death. After all of the unimaginable tragedies that have befallen the animals there, it is truly incredible that the US government would allow the export of live tigers to a concrete jungle in a war zone.

This move is inhumane and lacks any conservation value. Iraq remains an unstable country, still besieged by violent conflict. Animals in captivity suffer; they live in unnatural conditions, often behind bars and on concrete, and without attention to their biological and ecological needs. And that may be the case in well-funded Western zoos. Imagine what those tigers will experience adding gunfire and explosions to their environmental instability.

There are currently huge humanitarian and infrastructural challenges in Baghdad and across the country that require global attention. Survival is a daily ordeal ??? water shortages, power outages, security concerns, education and health needs still unmet. Stocking the Baghdad Zoo surely should be low on the priority list.

Since 1900, 95% of the world???s tigers have disappeared. There are more in captivity in the US than remain in the wild. Breeding tigers and shipping them to zoos around the world should not be our priority. Protecting their habitat and stopping poaching should be. That???s real conservation.

It is truly ironic that we could celebrate the liberation of Iraq with the incarceration of wild animals.
Will Travers
CEO, Born Free USA united with Animal Protection Institute
www.bornfreeusa.org
Posted By: hudsonbay @ 08/10/2008 2:25:57 AM

Comment: Agree the $ spent would have been better spent on helping people, but there are far too many exotic animals iillegally imported to the US; eventually many find their way to santuaries when discarded by or confiscated from their owners... best that they be rehabilitated and returned to the wild... but that is astronomically expensive, nearly impossible to be su=ccessful, often resulting in cruel death of animals ill - equipped to survive in their native habitats... perhaps it ius the least bad solution to send them to deveolping or recovering zoos like the one in Baghdad.
Posted By: aura_bryt @ 08/10/2008 12:06:14 AM

Comment: while i feel the us did the honorable thing by giving not only one but two tigers to the zoo in question i must point out to all those who say they should be in their natural enviorment that their natural enviorment ASIA they are being poached and it is a struggle to save these creatures so preserves and zoos are unfourtantly saving them from the dangers you would wish upon them simply wishing they could be free in their natural enviorment...isn't it said that Human as killing these beautitful creatures...but that seems to be the mail things humans are good for hate and death....
- Posted By: aura_bryt @ 08/10/2008 12:08:32 AM
  
  Comment: sorry please allow me to correct my own statement ....." isn't it sad that humans are killing these beautiful creatures...but that seems to be the main thing humans are good for hate and death"
Posted By: Antonella @ 08/09/2008 11:09:22 PM

Comment: Zoos should be altogether abolished! And the money spent on moving those animals would have been better spent on care for civilians. Ridiculous!
Posted By: Antonella @ 08/09/2008 11:08:10 PM

Comment: Zoos should be altogether abolished! And the expense of moving those animals would have better been spent on some civilian care. Ridiculous!
Posted By: Cliff-N-Cali @ 08/09/2008 10:12:37 PM

Comment: why africa??that's not their natural enviroment either!why send animals at all?! i believe that people there having other problems than taking their kids to the zoo.i only hope that they got proper care,enough food and staying save!!
Posted By: djoyce3 @ 08/09/2008 9:40:38 PM

Comment: These poor helpless creatures need to be transported to a preserve in Africa for rehabilitation just like Christian the Lion was! It should be a crime to pen these animals up like this. It's not their natural environment!
Posted By: rockdog12 @ 08/09/2008 8:49:38 PM

Comment: I think it is a crime to send those tigers to that unstable area. Shoting and bombs everyday. Shameful
Posted By: rockdog12 @ 08/09/2008 8:45:45 PM

Comment: I think it is a crime to return those tigers to a country that is not stable yet. They bomb each other, Morter shells going off almost everyday. To expose those wounderful creatures to that environment... shameful