See How Syrian Zoo Animals Escaped a War-Ravaged City | National Geographic

[Music] This is what we hoped for because this was a dangerous mission. This was people who risk their lives to go in and help these animals. These animals really suffer not only from lack of food, medicine, and water, but also from the military conflict that has a huge impact on them. All of them were merely traumatized from this war.

[Music] There were approximately 300 animals that were abandoned at the zoo and died in their cages, either from the military action or simply from no feeding, no water, and no food. It was a bombing environment. We were thankful that the locals were actually feeding them. Some of the army of the military were feeding them their own food, and that's what kept them alive.

We have to deal with both sides of the variables that were fighting at this time, from snipers on both sides. We have to deal with different rebel groups, and if any different voice was moving immediately, they would think we were transporting women or smuggling humans, and they would shoot us. We have to deal with the possibility of airstrikes—if the Russians would bomb this convoy. We were aware that the animals made a big noise, but the animals were very cooperative and very quiet during the transport.

Once the first line of animals arrived at the Turkish border, we were very glad that the Turkish ecology opened the border, and the Syrian side opened a border. It was incredible how all these people came together. Different authorities came together, and they were very proud to be part of the exchange of animals from one truck to the other. Even the Syrian team was very happy to hand over the animals. For them, it was a mission to bring these animals out of this war zone.

By the arrival of the first mile animals, the tools here or our plan—it fact, we had a long trip ahead, which was another 24 hours to transfer the animals from Kilis or Chop to the border on the Turkish side until we reached Karachi Bay in the north of Turkey. It was a very long and stressful trip for the animals, but because in Turkey we have a competent team of expert wildlife doctors, we were able to manage and care for the animals during this long trip until we arrived at Karachi Bay to the rescue center in total.

[Music] Last night, after we gave the animals their first aid and a little rest overnight with food and water, we started today with the vet checks. How do you sit down? In six minutes, it'll be ready to close the gate. He can breathe. Anything can happen. We were at the rescue station in Karachi for over three weeks, waiting to secure all the permits and medical examinations needed for the treatment of the animals to be transported.

On the 10th of August, we were able to move all the animals to our men, from Aman to El Ma'wa, the sanctuary for the segments.

[Music] The animals went to a place in Jordan known as Mahwa, which means it's a place for refugees—refugee animals. It is a species-appropriate place, a huge area of 140 hectares, considered one of the biggest of its kind as a wildlife sanctuary in the Middle East.

Twelve hours after their arrival in Jordan and reaching their new home, the lions were welcomed, which was great news and a miracle for us and for the team. The lions entered a safe place and a calm environment, with no more noises and no more bombs. Good things are happening; after each night, there is a morning. The dark becomes light.

They do this because it shows that each time we took lives out from crisis zones, conflict zones, and war zones, and you see them swimming freely, it showcases humanity and kindness. We never give up, and we believed in humanity.

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