Iraq; the Plight of Animals in War.

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Iraq; the Plight of Animals in War.

TARPON SPRINGS, FLORIDA, Apr. 13 -/E-Wire/-- Bombings, exploding mortars, gun fire; the devastation of war affects everyone. Most people wouldn't stop to consider how this affects animals caught in the midst of of a bloody war. These bombings and bloodshed in Iraq destroyed most of the animals of Baghdad Zoo, leaving the rest wounded, scared and starving.

After hearing about the animals plight; Gracia Bennish, international painter and professional photographer, known for her work with world endangered animals, knew that she had to go to Baghdad to see for herself what the conditions and future were for these magnificent creatures living in a ravaged battle ground and capture with her photographic artisry what she encountered.

While on a photographic assignment this past December in South Africa, she met environmentalist Lawrence Anthony, owner of the "Thula Thula" game Reserve. It was through Anthony that Bennish first learned of the Baghdad Zoo catastrophe and his rescue work in saving these animals.

Traveling as an individual without the benefits of an organization behind her she made her way alone into war torn Iraq, via Jordan. The 600 mile desert journey included a car wreck to the vehicle in which she traveled, along with the ever present danger of mortar attack in addition to the many hours spent at check points.

Arriving in Baghdad she connected up with the Baghdad Zoo and two heroic volunteers, a South African and an Iraqi veterinarian. These individuals had put their life on the line in more than one instance to rescue the animals in various parts of Iraq. With their help she was able to see first hand the captive animals which included a pride of lions at Sadam's son Udo's palace that barely survived the devastation of repeated bombing attacks.

Her camera captured not only the shell shocked lions in antiquated cages at Udo's palace but also Sadam's magnificent Arabian horses which had disappeared without a trace. With a few brave and able individuals, accompanied by soldiers of the US army seventeen of 80 stolen horses were located in a warehouse, emaciated with festering rodent bites.

The problems are far from over as the intrepid zoo staff strive daily to manage. It is a constant struggle to secure the copious amount of meat for the lions, the cages are in desperate need of repair and employees often can't get to work due to US military restrictions at check points.

Bennish's artisitic photographs chronicles a unique story on the plight of animals in war, the environment in which they live and the people that interact with them. While a small portion of the animals have survived starvation and injury, the question of their continued welfare has not been answered.

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