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Mysterious Box Sat At The Airport For 7 Days Until Someone Finally Helped The Animals Trapped Inside (UPDATED)
An unmarked wooden box only 16 inches tall sat at the Beirut Airport in Lebanon for a week before being opened – and people were shocked to find out three endangered Siberian tiger cubs inside. Dehydrated and starved, they were covered in urine and feces, their bodies infested with hundreds of maggots. “Nothing indicated that the box contained tigers or even live animals, and there were no details of a shipper or receiver,” rescue group Animals Lebanon (AL) wrote.
Turned out, the cubs were travelling from the the Nikolaev Zoo in Ukraine to the Samer al-Husainawi Zoo in Damascus, Syria when they got stuck in Lebanon.
This horrible scene people witnessed when they opened the box revealed just how badly exotic animals are sometimes being treated. AL made a plea to confiscate the tigers from their original owner arguing this was a case of cruelty against animals. Now the cubs are safe and sound and getting stronger every day.
“Big cats can be worth tens of thousands of dollars on the black market. The owner is fighting to get them back,” AL wrote. “And we are fighting for the tigers.”
Update: Bored Panda contacted Animals Lebanon who clarified that while being stuck at the airport, the tiger cubs did get visited by a representative of the importing zoo for around 15 minutes each day before being rescued. While the tiger babies are getting stronger everyday, their future is unknown. There’s a chance they could be given back to the legal owner and probably end up on the black market, but Animals Lebanon is doing everything for that not to happen. To support their case, visit the website below.
More info: Animals Lebanon | Facebook (h/t: thedodo)
RELATED:
An unmarked wooden box was left at the Beirut Airport in Lebanon for a week before being opened…
Image credits: Animals Lebanon
And people were shocked to find three endangered Siberian tiger cubs inside
Image credits: Animals Lebanon
Dehydrated and starved, they were covered in urine and feces, their bodies infested with hundreds of maggots
Image credits: Animals Lebanon
“Nothing indicated that the box contained tigers or even live animals, and there were no details of a shipper”
Image credits: Hussein Malla
Now the cubs are safe and sound and getting stronger every day at Animals Lebanon
“Big cats can be worth tens of thousands of dollars on the black market”
Image credits: Hussein Malla
“The owner is fighting to get them back… And we are fighting for the tigers”
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What do you think ?
Alusair Alustriel 8 years ago
"Nothing indicated that the box contained tigers or even live animals" apart from the breathing holes, sounds and smell. C'mon and give me a break. This just shows how ignorant people are of their surroundings. I'm happy they were found, rescued and are better now.
Alberto Curutchet 8 years ago
The comment is not to excuse the airport workers for their misperformace. It's only to confirm that this was a black market shipment, and to create awareness of that matter. I guess everybody agrees that the airport workers are idiots. Is either that or they are partners in crime...
Load More Replies...
Brigitte 8 years ago
I don't believe for a second that a big box like this could stay unattended for a whole week at an airport. Something's fishy.
Barbara Andrews Foster 8 years ago
I agree Brigitte. How did this happen and these beautiful animals never made a sound
Load More Replies...
Pam Tafarella 8 years ago
I hate this whole story. That these little guys were even in this situation and that no one at the airport bothered to check and see why this crate had breathing holes #humanfail
Violaine LB 8 years ago
It worries me that there could be a box left in an airport for a week that no one would even check!!! Anything could have been inside, including explosives. I am glad these poor little cubs got rescued and are getting the help they need.
Barbara Baxendale 8 years ago
If the owner gets these poor tigers back then there's something terribly wrong with the law against animal cruelty !!
Gillian Black 8 years ago
there must have been a smell we all know what poop and pee smells like there must hav been flies around it to have magots get of the grass someone surely has enough brains to realise that something is in there
Susan Davies 8 years ago
"Animals Lebanon who clarified that while being stuck at the airport, the tiger cubs did get visited by a representative of the importing zoo for around 15 minutes each day before being rescued. " So WHY did the importing zoo come and see them every day but not pick up the shipment and take it back to the zoo? And if they really DID come and see them every day they must have seen the conditions becoming worse and worse for the animals and they did nothing. I hope the tigers don't end up in that zoo because obviously it is substandard. And were these cubs poached? Taken from their mother in the wild? Maybe the mother was killed by the poachers so that they could take the cubs. I hope the cubs end up in a wildlife rehab place so they can be returned to the wild when they are old enough.
Amanda Scott 8 years ago
This makes me ashamed of being human... Greedy, despicable humans who only care about one thing - money.
Amro Tarraf 8 years ago
its not a matter of how much money they worth, idiot humans, go to hell, f**k u all.
Jamie Grech 8 years ago
That box could have had something dangerous in it (not that these little fellas CAN be dangerous, espically the state they were in) There could have been explosives in there and they have little indication of where or who it was going? The box itself looks suspicious, but if i saw it i would think "Thoes holes must be breathing its on all probability an animal".
Terri Mann 8 years ago
Hard to believe that no one heard a peep out of these tigers for an entire week. I'm sure there had to be some kind of noise coming from the box. It's a shame to think that someone could not have stepped up and investigated much sooner.
Nancy Synon 8 years ago
Airports probably get crates like that to transport animals all the time. Mysterious box? When I seen it I immediately knew it would have animals of some sort inside. So much for their tight security. 7 days? What? They say, "not my problem". ??????
Izabela Bartoszuk 8 years ago
Why on earth were they being shipped to a zoo in Syria of all places? That country isn't safe for its own people to live in right now, so for whose enjoyment do they even need an operating zoo right now? Is Isis needing a zoo to visit in between inflicting terrorist acts?
Roxanna Johnson 8 years ago
How could no one not notice what was in there ? The smell alone should have alerted some one .Did not any one here their cry's ? How awful . And if that nut job thinks he is getting them back he must be totally lost in his mind . Actually he should be charged with animal cruelty and if I am not mistaken . it is illegal to take those animals out of the wild . I think .
Linda Seecarry 8 years ago
Thank goodness these tigers were rescued in time. These poor animals should not go back to the original owners. They look like they are getting great care where they are now. Why should animals end up in zoos anyways. I hope they find a happy life where they are now. I hope the airport does better checkovers on baggage in the future.
Ruth Andrews 8 years ago
These tigers made no noise, really? Somebody at the airport lost their job I would hope. What if it was something dangerous.? Regardless it said their was no shipper and now they want them back. THEY WHO?? THERE WAS NO SHIPPER!!! and also THE "package" was abandoned, left to rot...THEY have no rights to the tigers, and if anyone in their right mind can't see that then our world is more messed up than I thought
Robbinlee Cormier 8 years ago
Omg !! They can't think of giving them back ! Would be so very wrong .. an outrage !
Pat Burregi Martyka 8 years ago
sorry but in the world today, most people just do their jobs without even thinking about what they are doing.....just a habit
Danielle Loughran 8 years ago
There's a petition on change . org to help prevent these cubs from still entering the black market!!!!!!!!! On the website type in 'Send 3 baby tigers to sanctuary - not the black market'. Please help x
Danielle Loughran 8 years ago
These cubs futures are not safe. Please sign this petition to prevent then from still entering the black market: https://www.change.org/p/send-3-baby-tigers-to-sanctuary-not-the-black-market/share?after_sign_exp=client_upsells
Danielle Loughran 8 years ago
Their future still isn't certain. Please sign this petition to help stop these cubs from possibly entering the black market: https://www.change.org/p/send-3-baby-tigers-to-sanctuary-not-the-black-market/share?after_sign_exp=client_upsells
Kent Hunter-Duvar 8 years ago
Now that someone has come forward as owning the animals. They can be charged for the inhumane treatment of them.
Colleen Farrell Perry 8 years ago
Considering every single strange looking box goes under a magnifying glass and bomb squad would deactivate it. This is bs.
Michael Prewitt 8 years ago
They were going from a zoo to another zoo. Why does the author keep talking about the owner putting them on the black market. I see no mention that the author even tried to contact either zoo for the story. This is truly bad reporting.
Lyn Robeson 8 years ago
anyone can see it is a pet box..It has air holes in it...Handlers would have heard animal noises coming from it when it was taken from the plane...A truly disgusting story..No blame for the sender..The box must have been marked for delivery to the zoo..Uh!!!!wake up..The Zoo and animals go hand in hand....Fully blame the airport staff for this one....glad they are safe and well now...
Jan Conway 8 years ago
They should not go back to the owner, they would be better kept & looked after to preserve them, until they can be returned to the wild, once they are older & can fend for themselves.
Thomas Nancy 8 years ago
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES RETURN TO OWNERS, THEY SHOULD BE JAILED OR AT LEAST FINED.
Amanda Kluszczynski 8 years ago
So... noone heard these poor kitties crying their lungs out? I call SHENANIGANS!
Alusair Alustriel 8 years ago
"Nothing indicated that the box contained tigers or even live animals" apart from the breathing holes, sounds and smell. C'mon and give me a break. This just shows how ignorant people are of their surroundings. I'm happy they were found, rescued and are better now.
Alberto Curutchet 8 years ago
The comment is not to excuse the airport workers for their misperformace. It's only to confirm that this was a black market shipment, and to create awareness of that matter. I guess everybody agrees that the airport workers are idiots. Is either that or they are partners in crime...
Load More Replies... Brigitte 8 years ago
I don't believe for a second that a big box like this could stay unattended for a whole week at an airport. Something's fishy.
Barbara Andrews Foster 8 years ago
I agree Brigitte. How did this happen and these beautiful animals never made a sound
Load More Replies... Pam Tafarella 8 years ago
I hate this whole story. That these little guys were even in this situation and that no one at the airport bothered to check and see why this crate had breathing holes #humanfail
Violaine LB 8 years ago
It worries me that there could be a box left in an airport for a week that no one would even check!!! Anything could have been inside, including explosives. I am glad these poor little cubs got rescued and are getting the help they need.
Barbara Baxendale 8 years ago
If the owner gets these poor tigers back then there's something terribly wrong with the law against animal cruelty !!
Gillian Black 8 years ago
there must have been a smell we all know what poop and pee smells like there must hav been flies around it to have magots get of the grass someone surely has enough brains to realise that something is in there
Susan Davies 8 years ago
"Animals Lebanon who clarified that while being stuck at the airport, the tiger cubs did get visited by a representative of the importing zoo for around 15 minutes each day before being rescued. " So WHY did the importing zoo come and see them every day but not pick up the shipment and take it back to the zoo? And if they really DID come and see them every day they must have seen the conditions becoming worse and worse for the animals and they did nothing. I hope the tigers don't end up in that zoo because obviously it is substandard. And were these cubs poached? Taken from their mother in the wild? Maybe the mother was killed by the poachers so that they could take the cubs. I hope the cubs end up in a wildlife rehab place so they can be returned to the wild when they are old enough.
Amanda Scott 8 years ago
This makes me ashamed of being human... Greedy, despicable humans who only care about one thing - money.
Amro Tarraf 8 years ago
its not a matter of how much money they worth, idiot humans, go to hell, f**k u all.
Jamie Grech 8 years ago
That box could have had something dangerous in it (not that these little fellas CAN be dangerous, espically the state they were in) There could have been explosives in there and they have little indication of where or who it was going? The box itself looks suspicious, but if i saw it i would think "Thoes holes must be breathing its on all probability an animal".
Terri Mann 8 years ago
Hard to believe that no one heard a peep out of these tigers for an entire week. I'm sure there had to be some kind of noise coming from the box. It's a shame to think that someone could not have stepped up and investigated much sooner.
Nancy Synon 8 years ago
Airports probably get crates like that to transport animals all the time. Mysterious box? When I seen it I immediately knew it would have animals of some sort inside. So much for their tight security. 7 days? What? They say, "not my problem". ??????
Izabela Bartoszuk 8 years ago
Why on earth were they being shipped to a zoo in Syria of all places? That country isn't safe for its own people to live in right now, so for whose enjoyment do they even need an operating zoo right now? Is Isis needing a zoo to visit in between inflicting terrorist acts?
Roxanna Johnson 8 years ago
How could no one not notice what was in there ? The smell alone should have alerted some one .Did not any one here their cry's ? How awful . And if that nut job thinks he is getting them back he must be totally lost in his mind . Actually he should be charged with animal cruelty and if I am not mistaken . it is illegal to take those animals out of the wild . I think .
Linda Seecarry 8 years ago
Thank goodness these tigers were rescued in time. These poor animals should not go back to the original owners. They look like they are getting great care where they are now. Why should animals end up in zoos anyways. I hope they find a happy life where they are now. I hope the airport does better checkovers on baggage in the future.
Ruth Andrews 8 years ago
These tigers made no noise, really? Somebody at the airport lost their job I would hope. What if it was something dangerous.? Regardless it said their was no shipper and now they want them back. THEY WHO?? THERE WAS NO SHIPPER!!! and also THE "package" was abandoned, left to rot...THEY have no rights to the tigers, and if anyone in their right mind can't see that then our world is more messed up than I thought
Robbinlee Cormier 8 years ago
Omg !! They can't think of giving them back ! Would be so very wrong .. an outrage !
Pat Burregi Martyka 8 years ago
sorry but in the world today, most people just do their jobs without even thinking about what they are doing.....just a habit
Danielle Loughran 8 years ago
There's a petition on change . org to help prevent these cubs from still entering the black market!!!!!!!!! On the website type in 'Send 3 baby tigers to sanctuary - not the black market'. Please help x
Danielle Loughran 8 years ago
These cubs futures are not safe. Please sign this petition to prevent then from still entering the black market: https://www.change.org/p/send-3-baby-tigers-to-sanctuary-not-the-black-market/share?after_sign_exp=client_upsells
Danielle Loughran 8 years ago
Their future still isn't certain. Please sign this petition to help stop these cubs from possibly entering the black market: https://www.change.org/p/send-3-baby-tigers-to-sanctuary-not-the-black-market/share?after_sign_exp=client_upsells
Kent Hunter-Duvar 8 years ago
Now that someone has come forward as owning the animals. They can be charged for the inhumane treatment of them.
Colleen Farrell Perry 8 years ago
Considering every single strange looking box goes under a magnifying glass and bomb squad would deactivate it. This is bs.
Michael Prewitt 8 years ago
They were going from a zoo to another zoo. Why does the author keep talking about the owner putting them on the black market. I see no mention that the author even tried to contact either zoo for the story. This is truly bad reporting.
Lyn Robeson 8 years ago
anyone can see it is a pet box..It has air holes in it...Handlers would have heard animal noises coming from it when it was taken from the plane...A truly disgusting story..No blame for the sender..The box must have been marked for delivery to the zoo..Uh!!!!wake up..The Zoo and animals go hand in hand....Fully blame the airport staff for this one....glad they are safe and well now...
Jan Conway 8 years ago
They should not go back to the owner, they would be better kept & looked after to preserve them, until they can be returned to the wild, once they are older & can fend for themselves.
Thomas Nancy 8 years ago
DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES RETURN TO OWNERS, THEY SHOULD BE JAILED OR AT LEAST FINED.
Amanda Kluszczynski 8 years ago
So... noone heard these poor kitties crying their lungs out? I call SHENANIGANS!
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