dr amir khalil speaks to bbc world service two weeks later , their first attempt to fly the animals out had to be aborted after a lorry carrying them was detained at a checkpoint .
... r paws pod and you wo n’t want to miss the first episode one released on february 1st , dr. amir khalil , four paws veterinarian of 25 + years , provides a first- hand account of our rescue mission to magic world zoo near aleppo , syria .
four paws usa is releasing a podcast called the fou image copyright afp image caption lula the bear was suffering from pneumonia when found at the zoo in february the only surviving animals of mosul zoo have been rescued from appalling conditions in the war - torn iraqi city .
amir khalil , an egyptian - austrian vet who headed the four paws mission , said simba and lula were suffering from many diseases caused by malnutrition and lack of care when he first saw them in february .
the charity four paws international came to their aid , and hundreds of thousands of people have fled their homes .
the next month , dr khalil started trying to acquire the correct paperwork from the iraqi authorities so that the animals could be taken abroad for proper care .
before the plane carrying them to jordan took off on monday , dr khalil told afp news agency : " this is a beginning of a new life for the animals . "
simba the lion and lula the bear were found abandoned at the privately - owned zoo in february , still in their cages and covered in dirt and excrement .
image copyright afp image caption it took four paws international weeks to get the necessary permits from the iraqi authorities the montazah al - morour zoo was nearly destroyed during the battle for the eastern half of the city earlier this year and most of its animals - including a lioness , monkeys and rabbits - were killed or died of starvation .