Amid the fighting and chaos of civil war, a group of animals from a zoo in a heavily-bombed part of Syria has been evacuated to safety by a team of international rescuers.
As part of the dangerous operation, rescuers crossed rebel and Government-controlled lines to extract the animals from the Magic World amusement park, just outside Aleppo.
While some animals still remain languishing in the Aleppo zoo, a team of armed security contractors rescued three lions, two tigers, two hyenas and two Asian black bears.
They were moved across the border to Turkey for treatment.
The zoo's owner fled the country years ago, but local zookeepers stayed on to care for the animals, at great risk to themselves.
Jeroen van Kernebeek from the Four Paws animal welfare charity said they deserved praise.
"They're alive, and that's where we have to thank some heroic and really compassionate local Syrian people," he said.
"Because it's really the zookeepers there that have kept these animals alive."
The zoo lies in a hotly-contested area of Aleppo that has been the scene of fierce fighting, changing hands a number of times between Government and rebel groups.
Mr van Kernebeek said one of the zookeepers was "killed in an air strike [while] he was trying to get food for the animals".
"It's really sad that one of these people that showed so much compassion under difficult circumstances [died doing so]," he said.
He said the animals were severely malnourished and suffering a number of health issues.
In Turkey, a team of international veterinarians and animal welfare activists, working with the Turkish environment ministry, managed to save the animals from near death.
"They are traumatised and they have parasite issues, so there's a lot of different things that are of significant concern in regards to their health," Mr van Kernebeek said.
"The two bears have now been examined and we're very lucky to say they are doing fairly well under the circumstances.
"They have some dental problems and parasites but they seem to be doing quite well after all that they have gone through."
The animals will stay in Turkey until they are well enough to be transported to a permanent home.
