Waiting for Giraffes

It’s difficult to say who is more restrained in Qalqilya, its citizens or its zoo’s animals. Bordering between Israel and the West Bank, the village is surrounded for two-thirds by the West Bank barrier. Qalqilya Zoo is the only place for leisure on the West Bank and welcomes hundreds of schools each year. The circumstances of the zoo are poor with a limited budget, limited space, and no trained staff. Apart from Dr Sami, the vet, who is determined to improve ‘his’ zoo. During the last Intifada, the zoo lost it’s most popular giraffes. Sami’s deepest wish is to bring new ones. Years ago he contacted all the zoos in Europe to ask them to donate giraffes. Only Hannover Zoo answered but couldn’t help as Qalqilya Zoo is not an EAZA member (European Association for Zoos & Aquaria). Sami decided that day to get international recognition for his zoo which put him in front of the incredible task of building a professional zoo on Occupied Territory in collaboration with the nearby Israeli Zoos.