Four African lion cubs died in the Rafiah City Zoo on Thursday because of the intense cold, Middle East Eye reported.
Zoo manager Fathi Jumaa told the British-based news site that his zoo lacks funding and that, due to the blockade of Gaza, he was unable to obtain the food and medicine needed to save the lives of the cubs. He added that the African lion is not used to living in cold weather and that the life of the lioness who gave birth to the cubs is also in danger.
While the cubs' death is tragic, he said, there is also a human tragedy suffered by the poor of Gaza that the media is not reporting. The other animals in the private zoo survived the winter storm, including the lioness, her mate and their three 14-month-old cubs, Reuters reported.