Food arrives for animals at Baghdad Zoo
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SPECIAL REPORT
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BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- A convoy of donated food arrived here Saturday for the remaining animals at the Baghdad Zoo, U.S. Central Command said.
The food, donated by the Kuwait government and transported by the coalition, includes a two-week supply of fruits, vegetables, and meat and a one-month supply of dry feed.
A Centcom spokesman said Sunday that it was not clear if the food has arrived at the zoo.
The Kuwait Zoo, and Kuwait's Director General of the Public Authority for Agricultural Affair and Fisheries earlier offered to provide veterinary and agricultural support to Iraq, Central Command said.
U.S. soldiers have been patrolling the Baghdad Zoo, fending off would-be looters and feeding the remaining animals whatever they can -- such as other dead animals and food the soldiers have, such as beef jerky.
Task Force Commander Maj. Rick Nussio told CNN's Michael Holmes that soldiers, fresh from the battlefield, had been moved by the animals "state of helplessness."
"Here they are, caged up, no water or food, no way to get water or food," Nussio said. "And I mean, I just don't think it was something we could turn our back on."
After the soldiers took the zoo and park, they had to leave for one night to continue the fight. During that time, the zoo, like much of Baghdad, was looted.
The cages were torn open, and birds, goats, and anything that wouldn't bite back had escaped or was stolen.
"I think it was somewhat surreal - I mean here we are in the middle of the city, everyone's been talking about urban combat for two or three months and the next thing you know there's camels walking through our position, and monkeys in the trees, and at night you have a lion roaming free - it was very surreal, very strange."
