VOA慢速英语--在加沙地区 人们养小狮子当宠物

On the roof of an apartment building in one of Gaza's most crowded cities live some unusual occupants – two baby lions.

The babies, or cubs¹, walk among the water tanks and eat chicken for food. Children play with the animals and some take selfies with them.

One is male, the other female. The lion cubs have become pets for a 27-year-old bakery owner Naseem Abu Jamea. They have become popular playthings for many people in the neighborhood.

And this has animal welfare experts concerned.

However, as children in his family and from the neighborhood played with the animals, Abu Jamea dismissed the risks.

"When you raise them as babies, he said, "a harmony will grow between both of you." This harmony, he added, would keep the lions from hurting him and others.

Abu Jamea said he got the cubs from a local zoo but would not give more details. He did, however, share a dream of his.

"It is my hobby. I was attached to them and I love to have them," he told Reuters. He said he hopes one day to have his own zoo.

One animal doctor, Amir Khalil, has a different opinion. He has led several trips to Gaza with the animal welfare organization Four Paws to rescue mistreated zoo animals. Khalil said he was concerned to hear about the cubs.

"I advise the Gaza authorities to take away those lions," he told Reuters by phone from Pakistan. "At the age of six months a lion becomes more dangerous as his size gets bigger and his muscles become stronger."

Animal welfare

Khalil also fears for the cubs' own welfare. The doctor said lions raised in a home may not get the food and medical care they need. This could result in long-term health problems, especially difficulties with muscles, joints², and bones.

During the coronavirus pandemic, zoos in Gaza have experienced a drop in the number of visitors. Without paying visitors, they are struggling to feed and care for the animals.

Hassan Azzam is an official with Gaza's agriculture ministry³. When asked about the lion cubs, he said the ministry does not know about any public objections to the animals. But he said the ministry would investigate.

"Palestine law does not permit raising wild animals in people's homes," he told Reuters. "Wild animals must be kept in proper zoo houses."

Back at the apartment building, the neighbors seemed untroubled to be living so close to a wild animal.

"I am not afraid," said one neighbor. "On the contrary, we are proud that we have lions in our area."

Words in This Story

roof – n. the upper covering part of a building

pet – n. a tame animal kept as a companion rather than for work

welfare – n. the state of being or doing well especially in relation to happiness, well-being⁴, or success

harmony – n. a pleasing combination or arrangement of different things

hobby – n. an interest or activity engaged in for pleasure

contrary – n. just the opposite

proud – adj. very happy and pleased because of something you have done, something you own, someone you know or are related to, etc. : feeling pride

1 cubs   

n.幼小的兽，不懂规矩的年轻人( cub的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a lioness guarding her cubs 守护幼崽的母狮
• Lion cubs depend on their mother to feed them. 狮子的幼仔依靠母狮喂养。 来自《简明英汉词典》

2 joints   

接头( joint的名词复数 )； 关节； 公共场所（尤指价格低廉的饮食和娱乐场所） （非正式）； 一块烤肉 （英式英语）

参考例句：

• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on gas mains. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在煤气的总管道上了。
• Expansion joints of various kinds are fitted on steam pipes. 各种各样的伸缩接头被安装在蒸气管道上了。

3 ministry   

n.(政府的)部；牧师

参考例句：

• They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
• We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。

4 well-being   

n.安康，安乐，幸福

参考例句：

• He always has the well-being of the masses at heart.他总是把群众的疾苦挂在心上。
• My concern for their well-being was misunderstood as interference.我关心他们的幸福，却被误解为多管闲事。