A tiger rescued from a crumbling zoo in Gaza has begun a new life at a wildlife sanctuary in South Africa.
Laziz, the last tiger in Palestine, had been living in a tiny, decrepit cage surrounded by the remains of other animals before being transferred to an enclosure 1,000 times larger.
Laziz’s new home is at the Lion’s Rock Big Cat Sanctuary, 250 miles from Johannesburg. After years of confinement, he roams freely under the sun, with the sights and sounds of 18 other rescued tigers nearby.
Upon arrival, he quickly adjusted, bringing joy to the rangers and vets who would care for him for the rest of his life.
Laziz, deprived of proper food and space, initially appeared lethargic and nervous. His diet of chicken carcasses and rotten fruit left him malnourished, while the cramped conditions of his cage made him forget his instincts.
However, shortly after entering his spacious enclosure, Laziz displayed newfound energy, leaping to reach his first meal of beef and jumping onto a shelter roof—something he had never been able to do in his previous home.
At around nine years old, Laziz had spent the last two years in a Gaza zoo among the bleached bones of other animals that had gradually perished.
In August, the international animal welfare charity Four Paws organized a rescue mission dubbed “Operation Noah’s Ark,” which saved Laziz and 13 other surviving animals.
The zoo, once home to 65 creatures, suffered from the impacts of Gaza’s conflict with Israel, bombings, and food shortages. Laziz’s previous environment was far from ideal, with little care or proper nutrition provided by the zoo’s owner.
The Khan Younis Zoo, where Laziz was held, was established in 2007, during a period when animals were smuggled into Gaza through tunnels used by Hamas fighters. These tunnels brought weapons, food, and animals, including Laziz, who arrived as a cub.
The zoo’s conditions deteriorated further after the 2014 conflict between Israel and Gaza, when the zoo’s animals were left without food and medical care, leading to the deaths of most of the creatures.
Laziz’s journey to freedom included a truck ride from Gaza to Israel, followed by a flight to Johannesburg.
Sedated for the journey, Laziz was safely transported to his new home, where his transformation began.
Ioana Dungler, director of Four Paws, noted how quickly Laziz adapted to his new surroundings despite initially being confused by the sudden change from his 10-square-meter cage to an enclosure 1,000 times larger.
Now, Laziz enjoys a proper diet and the care he had long been denied. He is fed kilos of beef weekly, with a special nutritional powder to help rebuild his muscle mass. In time, he may live up to two more decades in the sanctuary, where he will be safe from harm.
Dungler also shared that Laziz was introduced to another tiger for the first time, separated by a fence. While tigers are typically solitary, Laziz showed curiosity toward his fellow tiger, hinting at possible future interactions.
At Lion’s Rock, Laziz can finally live out his days in peace, free from the torment of his past. His new life is a far cry from the cage in Gaza, where the only things thrown at him were stones and nuts. Now, only cameras will capture the majestic predator in his new sanctuary home.
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