Palestinian zoo officials rip out 14-month-old lioness cub's claws so 'children can play with her'
A Palestinian zoo is facing heavy criticism from animal rights activists after it clipped the claws of one of its lioness cubs so it would then be "friendly" enough so children could play with the animal.
According to Daily Mail, the Rafah zoo in the Gaza Strip — which was opened in 1999 and which currently houses 49 animals including five lions, a hyena, several monkeys, wolves, emus, cats, dogs, and exotic birds — clipped off 14-month-old Falestine's claws with a pair of shears. However, the cub was allowed to keep its teeth.
The operation reportedly took place two weeks ago and saw the cub tranquilized and placed on a table. The veterinarian operating on her, Fayez al-Haddad, had to sew up a wound on her paw that oozed blood after the initial clipping and went on to operate on her again — to clip down the claws further — on February 12.