Zoo's Revival Signifies Hope for Afgans
K A B U L, Afghanistan, Oct. 19, 2002 -- By 2001, the ravaged Kabul Zoo and its few remaining animals had become symbols of the the city's struggles to survive a quarter-century of war.
The most famous symbol was the lion Marjan — old, lame and blind in one eye from a grenade blast. It had been thrown in anger by a man whose brother had been killed by Marjan and his mate. The brother, as everyone in Kabul seems to know, had climbed into the lions' cage to try to demonstrate his courage.
After his mate died, Marjan held on until the Taliban were driven out of Kabul last November by the Northern Alliance and U.S.-led forces. Two months later, Marjan finally succumbed, leaving only a few rabbits, a handful of monkeys, a few birds and a small black bear whose nose had somehow been mangled during the war. Most cages were empty.
Then a Beijing zoo decided to send a gift of hope to Kabul — a new lion and lioness, along with two miniature deer, two giant black bears, an Asian wolf, and a pair of pigs.
"People, they not only need food, they also need pleasure … they need to enjoy life in every aspect," said Sun Yuxi, the Chinese ambassador in Kabul. He said the new animals are an important message to Afghans that the world will help them rebuild and rediscover life.
The new lions, Strong Boy and Kelly, are expecting.
One young Afghan boy said he comes to the zoo every morning.
"I love both lions," he said. "They mean our country is now at peace."
A Long Road to Recovery
From their outdoor enclosure, Strong Boy and Kelly can see a city hillside looming above them to the west, and to the north, an ancient wall built by Genghis Khan's grandson that snakes its way up a mountain.
They cannot see that just over the southern wall of the zoo are some of Kabul's most war-ravaged neighborhoods.
But the zoo has come alive again. News quickly spread that the rabbits (who have greatly multiplied since Marjan's death), the parakeets and other remaining animals have some serious competition again.
The Kabul Zoo has a long way to go to recover from the wars it has endured. It doesn't even have reliable water or electricity — but neither do many Afghans.
They do have their lions back — traditional symbols here of dignity, and a sign, at least, that Afghans may yet be able to rebuild their capital with pride.
"I saw them get out of their crates," said Khalid, a refugee in his 20s who just recently returned to Kabul. "And it made me happy — made me think if the zoo can come back to life, maybe so can Afghanistan."