Tripoli Zoo Reopens After 17 Years, Offering Rare Relief in War-Torn Libya

Tripoli’s long-shuttered zoo has reopened after nearly two decades, offering residents a rare public space for leisure amid Libya’s ongoing instability. The facility, which spans 45 hectares in the capital, first closed in 2009 for renovations under the Gaddafi regime. It never reopened, becoming a casualty of the conflict that engulfed the country following the 2011 uprising.

For years, the zoo stood abandoned, its grounds scarred by stray bullets and its animal population decimated by violence and neglect. In 2011, staff fled as fighting erupted near Gaddafi’s Bab al-Aziziya compound, leaving the animals without care. Charities later provided emergency aid, but the site remained off-limits, controlled at various times by militias and even used as a staging area for migrant detention facilities.

Renewed clashes in 2023 saw gunmen kill dozens of animals, including lions, and steal rare species such as gazelles and oryxes. Out of an original population of more than 1,100, only about 700 animals survived. Images circulated online showing the aftermath: dead big cats and armed men loading trucks with stolen wildlife.

The turning point came last summer, when the UN-backed Government of National Unity regained control of the area after the death of militia leader Abdelghani “Gheniwa” al-Kikli. Authorities then began restoring the zoo to international standards, repairing enclosures and rebuilding the animal population.

The reopening in March, timed with the Eid al-Fitr holiday, drew hundreds of families despite heavy rain. Children in festive attire marveled at lions, Bengal tigers, bears, and native species such as fennec foxes, rhim gazelles, and Barbary sheep—each threatened by poaching. Visitors like civil servant Mohammed Erbeh, 44, expressed relief at finally having a place for family outings after nearly two decades without.

For many, the zoo represents more than recreation. Airline pilot Abdullah Aoun, 62, described it as an escape from the country’s persistent crises and divisions. As Libya remains split between rival administrations, the facility offers a fragile symbol of normalcy—one that authorities hope to preserve as they continue efforts to stabilize and rebuild the nation’s public spaces.