The northern parts of Syria, away from the demarcation lines and fighting, have recently seen attempts at urban planning, including industrial and tourist facilities. The first public park in Idlib was inaugurated Nov. 18, including a zoo, as part of a series of recreational projects across the city.

Youssef al-Sayyed, the director of the newly opened zoo, said that the park also includes an amusement park and a restaurant. "Although we brought a large number of animals, we decided to exhibit them in several steps in order to keep the residents in suspense," he said. The zoo is seeking a license from Turkey to add other animals from countries such as Ukraine. Currently, he said, the zoo includes "lions, tigers, monkeys, ostriches, and a large number of birds. They were brought from Iraq and Turkey, and at a later stage there will be Siberian tiger, deer, llama, timor, and giraffes.”

He told Al-Monitor that a team of veterinarians and nutritionists supervises the animals in accordance with international standards, and "all animals there are fully vaccinated and placed in the right and safe spaces. There is an isolation section, and artificial incubators, as well as trainers with long experience in dealing with wild animals.” 

The zoo has been very popular, he said, although foot traffic will decrease as the winter approaches. "The entrance fee to the park is 10 liras per adult, and it is free for children under the age of seven, the children of martyrs, orphans, war-wounded and people with special needs," he said. "The entrance fee for students as part of the school field trip is five liras per student.”