The last tiger of Palestine lived its days in a squalid cage, fed on a diet of chicken carcasses and rotting fruit.
But now Laziz has been rescued and sent to the veldt of South Africa where his new home is 1,000 times the size of his small enclosure.
And he has 18 new tiger friends to play with.
The malnourished animal spent two years in a cramped cage among bleached bones of other animals at the run-down Khan Younis Zoo in the Gaza Strip.
There was not even enough room for him to jump, according to Mail Online.
Pictures show a now happy Laziz at the Lion’s Rock Big Cat Sanctuary where he gets plenty of space for exercise, fresh food and around the clock care.
Animal welfare charity, Four Paws, managed to rescue the nine-year-old from his hell-hole cage along with 13 other tigers.
These were the only survivors of a population of 65 which dwindled due to war, food shortages and poor conditions.
Laziz was exposed to taunting children who threw nuts at him and his only company was a mummified tiger next to his cage.
In 2007, the majority of the animals were smuggled through tunnels dug by Hamas fighters.
But following war, many of the animals were killed and the zoo’s horrific conditions were eventually brought to the attention of Four Paws.
Dr Amir Khalil, director of the mission, told Mail Online: ‘It was clear that this was a failing place. Food, medicine, basic care for the animals – everything was in short supply and they were paying for it with their lives.’
The tiger was sedated and put on a flight to Johannesburg.
Paws director Ioana Dungler said Laziz was baffled by his surroundings at first, but soon settled in.
‘He learned to jump, he craned his head to hear the roar of the other tigers. He can rake his claws as nature intended on tree trunks. Most of all he is getting the food and care he needs,’ she added.
But now Laziz has been rescued and sent to the veldt of South Africa where his new home is 1,000 times the size of his small enclosure.
And he has 18 new tiger friends to play with.
The malnourished animal spent two years in a cramped cage among bleached bones of other animals at the run-down Khan Younis Zoo in the Gaza Strip.
There was not even enough room for him to jump, according to Mail Online.
Pictures show a now happy Laziz at the Lion’s Rock Big Cat Sanctuary where he gets plenty of space for exercise, fresh food and around the clock care.
Animal welfare charity, Four Paws, managed to rescue the nine-year-old from his hell-hole cage along with 13 other tigers.
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| The animal dubbed the last tiger of Palestine has found a new home |
These were the only survivors of a population of 65 which dwindled due to war, food shortages and poor conditions.
Laziz was exposed to taunting children who threw nuts at him and his only company was a mummified tiger next to his cage.
 |
| The tiger lived in squalor at a Gaza zoo surrounded by bones |
In 2007, the majority of the animals were smuggled through tunnels dug by Hamas fighters.
But following war, many of the animals were killed and the zoo’s horrific conditions were eventually brought to the attention of Four Paws.
 |
| Laziz was fed on a diet of chicken carcasses and rotting fruit |
Dr Amir Khalil, director of the mission, told Mail Online: ‘It was clear that this was a failing place. Food, medicine, basic care for the animals – everything was in short supply and they were paying for it with their lives.’
The tiger was sedated and put on a flight to Johannesburg.
Paws director Ioana Dungler said Laziz was baffled by his surroundings at first, but soon settled in.
 |
| Laziz also lives with 18 other tigers |
‘He learned to jump, he craned his head to hear the roar of the other tigers. He can rake his claws as nature intended on tree trunks. Most of all he is getting the food and care he needs,’ she added.
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