Evacuated lion from war-torn Syria to Turkey’s Bursa gives birth in Jordan

Banu Tuna - BURSA

A lion evacuated from the war-torn province of Syria’s Aleppo to the Marmara province of Bursa gave birth in Jordan on Aug. 12.

The lion named “Deina,” was pregnant when she was brought to Bursa. She gave birth after she was transferred to a zoo in Jordan.
Officials in Jordan’s Al Ma’wa Protection Center of Wildlife and Nature gave the name “Hajar” to the little lion cub.

A group of animals, including Deina from Aleppo’s “World of Magic” Zoo in Syria, which was heavily damaged during the clashes in the city, were sent to Turkey and taken under protection in July.

Primarily, wild animals which were injured due to civil war were sent to Turkey for treatment and rehabilitation as part of an initiative started with the cooperation of Forestry and Waterworks Ministry, Directorate of Nature Conservation and National Parks, animal rights NGOs, HAÇİKO, and Four Paws.

Three lions, two tigers, two bears, and two hyenas have been taken to the Karacabey Ovakorusu Bear Shelter in the Marmara province of Bursa.

Officials stated that endangered animals were the first part of the project.

Amir Khalil, Deina’s veterinarian, detected she was pregnant with two cubs when she was living in Bursa’s Karacabey.

However, one of the cubs died when Deina was travelling to Jordan which is kilometers away from Bursa.

The number of animals saved from Aleppo rose to 14 with the one born most recently.

Animals from Syria were brought to Turkey in single-animal cages in a special designed lorry from Syria while officials from Ministry and Four Paws discussed the coordination of the animals.

Animals will be medically examined in detail under anesthesia and treated by veterinaries before being placed in suitable shelters.

Meanwhile, Forestry and Waterworks Minister Veysel Eroğlu commented on the project saying that wildlife was a common heritage of the whole world.