Painted donkeys stand in for zebras at Gaza Strip zoo

[woodyear99]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/unleashed/2009/10/gaza-donkeys-zebras.html

Are they zebras, or are they donkeys?  Well, if you ask the staff and visitors at Gaza's Marah Land zoo, the (bizarre) answer is: They're both.

Because of Israel's blockade of the Gaza Strip, obtaining a real zebra would be a tricky business involving smuggling and a hefty expense -- $40,000 for a single zebra was zoo owner Mohammed Bargouthi's estimate.  So zoo staff took matters into their own hands and went DIY, using just a roll of masking tape, a paintbrush and some women's hair dye to turn two white donkeys into imitation zebras.  ("The first time we used paint but it didn't look good," Bargouthi's son Nidal told Reuters of the process.)

They kind of look like zebras, if you squint.  But to schoolchildren in Gaza who have never seen a zebra, they're just as good as the real thing, according to Nidal.  "The children don't know so they call them zebras and they are happy to see something new," he said.  So far, according to Slate, none of the children have caught on that their beloved zebras are actually imposters.  But, zoo director Mahmud Berghat acknowledged, two university students did spot the bit of trickery.  No matter; no one seems inclined to let on to the zoo's youngest visitors.

Check out The Times' photo gallery for more shots of these faux zebras (and some real zebras as well, for comparison).

-- Lindsay Barnett

[W1nTry]

This goes to show the sad state of affairs... it's funny and yet the underlying point is because they are under embargo (read all their supplies are controlled by Israel) they have RESORTED to this to make kids happy... there's something sickening about this article... am I the only one that thinks this?

[New Era Outlaw]

I'm probably a bastard for saying this, but I couldn't finish reading that article without laughing my ASS off.

*audience boos*

What?! WHAT?! *dodges brick* I SAW THAT, SAXMAN.

[woodyear99]

Nah man I couldn't laugh, things real bad over there.

[New Era Outlaw]

That I wouldn't doubt. I do feel sorry that they have to resort to things like that, just so the young 'uns can see what a zebra...uh.....looks like.



I think it's more the fact that they expect you to read the words 'painted donkey' with a straight face that makes it so unfortunately hilarious, though.















.....now if you'll excuse me, I have to go burn down an orphanage whilst twirling my evil moustache. Because I am a heartless bastard for saying that. Yes.

[W1nTry]

I can't help but wonder if this article or information therein was provided by an Israelite that just wanted to make a joke out of an otherwise very sad situation... and if you think humans are low enough to do that, you KNOW better than that...

[woodyear99]

Here's a video




They had 2 real zebras but they died of hunger wtf.

[New Era Outlaw]

....now that is just sad. =(

[TriniXaeno]

they don't look half bad though, I'd be fooled at a glance.

[Crixx_Creww]

this is real tug life, not that dotish gaza and gully thing them jamaicans on about...
this is the gaza that men wanna imitate?? wow.. had zebras but they starved to death...
but.. we may not be that far off again nah.. the way we treat them chinese... steups