The Middle East is well-known for its wealthy private collectors of endangered animals whom often attain their collection illegally, but Lebanon seems to be the smuggling hub.
Since many Lebanese live in Africa and it is one of the few countries not signed to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), it has become an easy transit point for smugglers bringing endangered wildlife into the Middle East.
The country also does not have any basic animal protection laws resulting in animals like the endangered gray parrot being sold, unregulated, in pet shops throughout Lebanon for $2,000.
Jason Mier, director of animal rights NGO Animals Lebanon, rescued Omega, a nicotine addicted chimpanzee who was serving customers in a restaurant and was given to a less-than-satisfactory zoo after customers got him drunk, causing a violent outburst from the chimp.
“There is cement, there are metal bars, there is nothing natural whatsoever,” Jason says of Omega’s former “zoo”.
The smell of change may be in the air though.
Animals Lebanon has succeeded in shutting down an unsatisfactory zoo and have succeeded in sending the former waiter, Omega, to a new home in Brazil.
The Lebanese Minister of Agriculture Hussein Al Hajj Hassan acknowledges that many things, including partnership with CITES, has been delayed and is even working with animal welfare groups to draft new laws.
We hope the Minister follows through and Lebanon signs with CITES so this brutal, disgusting trade can be stopped for good!