Heartbreaking photos reveal suffering of Mosul zoo animals including a lion and a bear left to starve to death by ISIS
- Photos show emaciated lioness lying on exposed cables in a cage at Mosul zoo
- Another picture shows a bear looking through the rusty bars of its enclosure
- Anti-ISIS group Mosul Eye posted images in appeal for help to care for animals
- Al-Murur park is in eastern area of Mosul recently liberated from ISIS terrorists
These shocking photos reveal the suffering of Mosul zoo animals after they were left to starve to death by cruel ISIS thugs.
An emaciated lioness was found cowering in a squalid cage and lying on exposed cables at Al-Murur public park after the area was liberated from the terror group.
Another heartbreaking image shows a bear looking mournfully through the rusting bars of its enclosure.
![A lion in its cage looks at a dead lioness in a grave at Mosul's zoo, where animals were left to starve to death](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206183205/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/18/3CC495F500000578-4183300-image-a-8_1486060130555.jpg)
A lion in its cage looks at a dead lioness in a grave at Mosul's zoo, where animals were left to starve to death
![Shocking photos reveal the suffering of Mosul zoo animals, including an emaciated lioness (pictured) and a caged bear after they were left to starve to death by cruel ISIS thugs](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206183205/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/07/3CC1245D00000578-0-image-m-4_1486022356637.jpg)
![Shocking photos reveal the suffering of Mosul zoo animals, including an emaciated lioness and a caged bear (pictured) after they were left to starve to death by cruel ISIS thugs](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206183205/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/07/3CC1245100000578-0-image-m-6_1486022373144.jpg)
Shocking photos reveal the suffering of Mosul zoo animals, including an emaciated lioness (left) and a caged bear (right) after they were left to starve to death by cruel ISIS thugs
Separate pictures show the filthy, ramshackle cages where animals were neglected during the terrorists' reign.
Like much of the city, the once-peaceful animal park has been destroyed by months of fighting between Iraqi forces and Islamic State militants.
When the military advanced into Mosul, Nour Park, which had been home to a range of animals from monkeys to horses, was transformed into an Islamic State staging ground for attacks on Iraqi troops.
![Like much of the city, the once-peaceful animal park has been destroyed by months of fighting](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206183205/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/19/3CC4AFCE00000578-4183300-image-a-20_1486064151294.jpg)
Like much of the city, the once-peaceful animal park has been destroyed by months of fighting
![A starving bear peeks his mouth and nose through the bars of his cage at Mosul Zoo](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206183205/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/19/3CC4B06300000578-4183300-image-a-19_1486064146684.jpg)
A starving bear peeks his mouth and nose through the bars of his cage at Mosul Zoo
![Children peer through the bear's enclosure at Mosul Zoo. Local residents have been doing their best to keep the animals alive](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206183205/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/19/3CC4B07A00000578-4183300-image-a-18_1486064144760.jpg)
Children peer through the bear's enclosure at Mosul Zoo. Local residents have been doing their best to keep the animals alive
'When the battle intensified, it was impossible for the guard and animal handler to reach them,' said the zoo owner, who gave his name only as Abu Omar.
Neighbours had been feeding the animals, but when the fighting became too fierce, they could not leave their homes. Some of the animals starved to death. Others escaped or were killed in the fighting.
Anti-ISIS group Mosul Eye uploaded the pictures in a desperate plea for help from animal charities. They later revealed that the lioness had died.
However, it is understood that an animal expert from Kurdistan has stepped in to offer assistance.
Saif al-Bassef, a volunteer sent by the Kurdistan Organisation for Animal Rights, brought the first substantial food for a month. 'It's shameful to watch the animals struggle, they need help. They are not connected to the war,' he said.
![The zoo is located in the eastern part of the city that has recently been recaptured by Iraqi forces](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206183205/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/07/3CC1246600000578-0-image-a-7_1486022390258.jpg)
The zoo is located in the eastern part of the city that has recently been recaptured by Iraqi forces
![Separate pictures show the filthy, ramshackle cages where animals were neglected during the terrorists' reign](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206183205/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/08/3CC1246100000578-0-image-a-8_1486022405595.jpg)
Separate pictures show the filthy, ramshackle cages where animals were neglected during the terrorists' reign
![A sign outside the now-abandoned zoo, which was once a popular attraction for families, reads 'Nour Park' in Arabic](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206183205/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/18/3CC4A09100000578-4183300-image-a-9_1486060135276.jpg)
A sign outside the now-abandoned zoo, which was once a popular attraction for families, reads 'Nour Park' in Arabic
![A starving lion is seen in its cage, one of several animals which was cruelly abandoned by Islamic State brutes](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206183205/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/18/3CC4954F00000578-4183300-image-a-10_1486060192320.jpg)
A starving lion is seen in its cage, one of several animals which was cruelly abandoned by Islamic State brutes
Mosul Eye wrote: 'When you learn to care for the animal and be kind to them, then you will know the value of human life, in this life.
'Everything is connected. There's no part that is worthless. Thanks to Dr. Sulaiman who called…and agreed quickly to save them.'
The zoo is located in the eastern part of the city that has recently been recaptured by Iraqi forces.
![Some of the animals starved to death, while others escaped or were killed in the fighting](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206183205/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/19/3CC4AF5900000578-4183300-image-a-21_1486064192991.jpg)
Some of the animals starved to death, while others escaped or were killed in the fighting
![A volunteer feeds a lion at Nour Park in Mosul's zoo. Of the four lions in the park, only two of the animals have survived](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206183205/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/19/3CC4AF3100000578-4183300-image-a-24_1486064205420.jpg)
A volunteer feeds a lion at Nour Park in Mosul's zoo. Of the four lions in the park, only two of the animals have survived
![The park, which also features colourful children's rides, sits in the eastern half of the city](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206183205/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/19/3CC4AEAA00000578-4183300-image-a-25_1486064212143.jpg)
The park, which also features colourful children's rides, sits in the eastern half of the city
People living around the park told Reuters they had been bringing their left-over food to the animals. But it was nowhere near enough in a city where human beings can barely survive, let alone zoo animals.
There used to be four lions. When the first two died, the surviving lions ate their remains amid the chaos.
A shell hit one of the cages and the monkeys escaped, causing havoc for nearby residents.
![A man stands next to a hole caused by mortar shell at Nour Park. One shell hit animal cages, causing the moneys to escape](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206183205/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/19/3CC4AF7600000578-4183300-image-a-26_1486064217428.jpg)
A man stands next to a hole caused by mortar shell at Nour Park. One shell hit animal cages, causing the moneys to escape
![Groups of children jump around in the ruins of the playground inside the animal park](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206183205/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/19/3CC4B08400000578-4183300-image-a-23_1486064203083.jpg)
Groups of children jump around in the ruins of the playground inside the animal park
![A boy shows his hand red and scarred from a monkey scratch when he was attacked by one three weeks ago](http://web.archive.org./web/20170206183205/http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2017/02/02/19/3CC4B05500000578-4183300-image-a-22_1486064200527.jpg)
A boy shows his hand red and scarred from a monkey scratch when he was attacked by one three weeks ago
'The monkeys were jumping on the houses, scaring the children and stealing the fruit. Ducks and other animals were running around, the whole neighborhood had to run around trying to catch them,' said Faten Amar, who lives across the road.
Another resident showed Reuters his son's hand, red and scarred from a monkey scratch when he was attacked by one three weeks ago.
The park, which also features colourful children's rides, sits in the eastern half of the city that has recently been retaken by Iraqi forces.
Groups of children jump around in the ruins of the playground, not far from an unexploded bomb and a disused freezer full of ordnance.
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