The animals in Gaza’s South Jungle Zoo are starving to death.

Their struggle started in 2014, during the 50-day war between Israel and Hamas. No one could get to the animals to feed them. Some, including a beautiful Bengal Tiger, died waiting for food. Now, conditions for the creatures that have survived the fighting are dire.

The region’s people are having a hard time finding food, let alone the animals. The zoo is not bringing in revenue anymore, as almost no one visits since the fighting began. Staff have taken to stuffing the animals that die and putting them back on display, to maintain the facade of a lively zoo.

These animals are innocent, and should not be victims of the war. An agency called Four Paws is currently working to try and secure the release of these animals. Please join me and ask the South Jungle Zoo to consider working with Four Paws to secure the release of the surviving animals to qualified aid organizations, sanctuaries or zoos in more stable regions.

Many of these animals are already endangered, and to drag them through such suffering is senseless. Of the six ostriches, only one is still alive. The lions and the only llama died in December. There are no more crocodiles. One tiger remains, and the owner was recently quoted saying it had not eaten in four or five days.

Half of the remaining 20 or so animals and birds in the zoo are ill due to lack of veterinary care. We must act now to save them.

Let’s implore the South Jungle Zoo’s owner to release all of his surviving animals to qualified organizations and sanctuaries that can nurse them back to health. It is their only hope.