Emergency Mission Jordan

FOUR PAWS animal welfare mission in Jordan

A new chapter for big cats and bears in Jordan

Following an important decision by the Jordanian Government to prohibit the private keeping, breeding and trading of wild animals, FOUR PAWS has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jordanian Ministry of Agriculture. Together, we are taking action to end the private keeping of big cats and bears in Jordan and improve the lives of these animals.

Currently, approximately 71 big cats and brown bears are being kept in four private facilities in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. None of these facilities holds the required licences under Jordan's Agriculture Law of 2015, which makes the keeping of these wild animals illegal.

Following an urgent request from the Jordanian Government, FOUR PAWS has begun an emergency animal welfare mission. Working alongside Jordanian authorities and other stakeholders, an international team of FOUR PAWS veterinary and animal welfare specialists will visit all four facilities to identify and assess the animals, provide essential veterinary care and support the relocation of approximately 71 big cats and bears to species-appropriate homes.

The emergency welfare mission will focus on the health, safety and long-term welfare of these animals. Our veterinary and animal welfare experts will:

Microchip and vaccinate the bears and big cats to support their identification and health protection.
Carry out pregnancy ultrasounds where required to assess the reproductive health of the animals.
Fit contraceptive implants to prevent further breeding and help stop the population of privately kept wild animals from growing.

Through this work, FOUR PAWS aims to support the Jordanian authorities in implementing the country's legislation and ending the private keeping of big cats and bears.

A future without the private keeping of big cats and bears in Jordan

This emergency mission marks an important milestone for animal welfare in Jordan. By working together with the Jordanian Government and local stakeholders, FOUR PAWS is helping pave the way towards a future where big cats and bears are no longer privately kept in the country.

Tiger laying in an enclosure in on of Jordan's private facilities

FOUR PAWS team performing veterinary checks in Jordan

Private keeping of a bear in one of the falicities in Jordan

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Stay tuned to learn more about what happened at the next stop and our work in Jordan in general.

Veterinary assessment of a tiger in Jordan

The veterinary assessments of around 70 animals have already made incredible progress

Over the first few days, we examined and treated a total of 20 animals, starting with Bunduq the bear and ending with Dalaa the lioness.

Bunduq is a Syrian brown bear who has been at the zoo since at least 2015, when he was already an adult. Since the death of his companion, he has been living alone for the past 10 years. He is a friendly giant, weighing around 300 kg! Considering his age of at least 15 years, he was in relatively good condition, apart from dental issues that unfortunately appeared to be causing him pain. Thankfully, the team was able to administer anti-inflammatory medication!

Little lioness Dalaa was the youngest lion at the zoo, at less than a year old. The zoo staff describe her as a very active lioness who loves to climb and jump! Like all the other animals, Dalaa received a full health assessment and important vaccinations, including protection against rabies. After a successful first stage of the mission, we moved on to the next facility, home to 12 animals.

2026