An image showing three Syrian men next to a dead lion, with one of the men cutting up the lion's hind legs, has caught the attention of both social media and international media.
The photo is being used as "proof" that the people of Syria are so hungry that they've resorted to killing zoo animals for food.
The Independent has said the photo is being circulated "as an example of the levels of sheer desperation many have reached in the war-torn capital."
When will the world wake up to the suffering in #Syria? Starving rebels eat lion from a #Damascus zoo | The Times http://t.co/ffv5BbEaNF
Peace be with you!
@ru4peace2
When will the world wake up to the suffering in #Syria? Starving rebels eat lion from a #Damascus zoo | The Times http://t.co/ffv5BbEaNF
The poor people of #Syria, forced to kill and eat lion from Damascus zoo..
Jay
@WickWonder
The poor people of #Syria, forced to kill and eat lion from Damascus zoo..
I don't know much about Syria, but I came across this... it's so upsetting, had no idea it was so bad http://t.co/WinrzjypSG
Hollie Bell
@_HollieBell
I don't know much about Syria, but I came across this... it's so upsetting, had no idea it was so bad http://t.co/WinrzjypSG
Given that 1000s ppl starve to death daily, I'm not sure why I find this particularly upsetting, but I do: http://t.co/HwONT9t1KH #Syria
Oliver Lewis
@olewis75
Given that 1000s ppl starve to death daily, I'm not sure why I find this particularly upsetting, but I do: http://t.co/HwONT9t1KH #Syria
It's been reported that the photo was originally shared on Facebook by BBC Journalist Julia Macfarlane, but Macfarlane has confirmed that the photo does not belong to her.
@CateSevilla Had a long convo with @troublejee @Free_Media_Hub 2 days ago about it. No not mine. Furthest back we got was @MousaAlomar
Julia Macfarlane
@juliamacfarlane
@CateSevilla Had a long convo with @troublejee @Free_Media_Hub 2 days ago about it. No not mine. Furthest back we got was @MousaAlomar
The source of the original photo hasn't been verified, and many are assuming that this photo means the people of Syria are now just so hungry they're breaking into zoos and killing the animals at will:
What the hell is wrong with you Syria?!? Killing a lion for food? I understand the need for food and such, but seriously? A LION? :|
JIGGY FERNANDEZ THO
@jiggyfernandez
What the hell is wrong with you Syria?!? Killing a lion for food? I understand the need for food and such, but seriously? A LION? :|
Syria : As starvation mounts rebels slaughter lion instead of cats http://t.co/YfUoKgpmIO via @zamanalwsl
Fenia Yfandi
@Feni_55_Crystal
Syria : As starvation mounts rebels slaughter lion instead of cats http://t.co/YfUoKgpmIO via @zamanalwsl
However, this is not necessarily what is happening.
The photo was apparently taken at a zoo in the al-Qarya al-Shamya Zoo. Al-Ghouta is a suburb of Damascus that is divided into East Ghouta and West Ghouta,and apparently the Syrian Regime has managed to cut off all resources to the area by closing main highways and military roads to East Ghouta.
The Independent have reported that Syria clerics "issued a fatwa" that allows people living in the besieged areas to eat meats that are normally forbidden under Islamic law, including dogs, cats and donkeys.
The men could have 'mercy killed' a sick lion because of the lack of medication; they could also be using its coat of fur because temperatures have decreased. However, slaughtering a lion for the sake of eating it is not the case in al-Ghouta (at least that is what al-Ghouta residents have asserted): 'We don't need to consume lion meat, nor cat meat. YES, we are hungry and suffering from the lack of resources, but whoever is trying to advertise for our humanitarian crisis surely did it wrong using lions, cats and donkeys.'
Whether or not the lion was already dead, a "mercy kill", or was in fact being used for food has not been confirmed, and perhaps it will remain one of of the many unanswered questions about the situation in Syria.