World

Lion cubs turn into stars of Gaza family

Jamal plans to use them to make money in the future

Afp March 22, 2015

Saad al-Jamal holds the lions in his arms as one of them struggles in an effort to get back on the ground. PHOTO: REUTERS

Two lion cubs have become star members of a family living in a Gaza refugee camp as a result of the weak economy in the war-battered Palestinian territory.

PHOTO: AFP

A cash-starved zoo in Rafah, in the southern Gaza Strip, sold the cubs to Saadi Jamal, a Palestinian Authority security employee who has taken them home -- to the delight of his four children and their neighbours.

For the past 10 weeks, "they've been living in the house like members of the family", says he. The children in the three-room apartment and their local friends "play all day long with the cubs".

PHOTO: AFP

But this extended family comes at a price.

They gobble up half a kilo (one pound) of meat a day, a tall order in Israeli-blockaded Gaza where prices have soared since a devastating war last July-August against the Jewish state.

PHOTO: REUTERS

"Once they turn five months," Jamal plans to make some money by leasing the cubs out to lunar parks, seaside resorts and restaurants.

PHOTO: AFP

Jamal has even received a $9000 (8,400 euros) offer to buy them, but he won't say how much he paid the zoo.

COMMENTS (3)

Wajahat | 9 years ago | Reply @Hobi Haripur wala: Of course they would do that. Their plan only was to rescue them and since they are only cubs, they afforded to do that.

Hobi Haripur wala | 9 years ago | Reply He has no idea what he has done. They will go into huge lions. In a matter of time. They will need bare minimum 25 to 30 lbs of meat, EACH, daily or at least every other day to stay alive. Or stay in good health. He better sell them fast.

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