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But they are still in a precarious state. Cruz has approached several international nongovernmental organizations for funds to continue the animals’ care or move them to sanctuaries in safer areas of the country. But she has received the same response, she said.

“We’ve been knocking at every door,” said Cruz. “Every single NGO whose mission is animal welfare, their excuse is the war. They say, ‘we can’t get in.’ With people dying, and the bombs, the plight of the animals seems nonexistent by comparison. People don’t focus on it.

“And there’s no institutional capacity in Yemen to take care of the animals,” she added. “It keeps me up at night. To think of these little face between the bars.”

With people dying, and the bombs, the plight of the animals seems nonexistent by comparison. People don’t focus on it

Indeed, critics have questioned why so much focus on the animals when civilians, including children and women, were being killed or wounded regularly in Taiz – and across Yemen. When a senior European Union official brought up the possibility of transferring the animals, there was outrage on social media.

Cruz said they are crowd-funding again, but the money is only trickling now – far less than the $3,300 needed each week. There’s less interest now. “Once the story is old, you know how it is,” she said. “The destiny of the zoo seems to be doomed.”

If nothing is done to help the zoo, Hakimi worries the endangered leopards could become targets of poachers. Each one, he said, could be sold to wealthy individuals in the Persian Gulf area or elsewhere for $500,000.

If they survive, that is.

“When the money runs out, they will start suffering again,” Hakimi said. “And they will start dying again.”