Mohamad Wattar, the manager of Ernesto's Sanctuary for cats, plays with some of the more than 1,000 cats cared for at the centre in Idlib, Syria. Reuters
Mohamad Wattar, the manager of Ernesto's Sanctuary for cats, plays with some of the more than 1,000 cats cared for at the centre in Idlib, Syria. Reuters
Ernesto's Sanctuary in Syria cares for more than 1,000 cats. Reuters
Ernesto's Sanctuary in Syria cares for more than 1,000 cats. Reuters
Feeding time tends to be loud and chaotic at Ernesto's Sanctuary. Reuters
Feeding time tends to be loud and chaotic at Ernesto's Sanctuary. Reuters
Behind the mask: a worker and a cat interact at Ernesto's Sanctuary in Idlib, Syria. Reuters
Behind the mask: a worker and a cat interact at Ernesto's Sanctuary in Idlib, Syria. Reuters
A cat sips water at Ernesto's sanctuary for cats in Idlib, Syria. Reuters
A cat sips water at Ernesto's sanctuary for cats in Idlib, Syria. Reuters
Cats found refuge at Ernesto's Sanctuary. Reuters
Cats found refuge at Ernesto's Sanctuary. Reuters
A worker plays with a cat at Ernesto's sanctuary for cats in Idlib, Syria. Reuters
A worker plays with a cat at Ernesto's sanctuary for cats in Idlib, Syria. Reuters
Most of the animals at the sanctuary are there after being injured during the war or because their owners had to leave them behind. Reuters
Most of the animals at the sanctuary are there after being injured during the war or because their owners had to leave them behind. Reuters
Ernesto's Sanctuary was originally located in Aleppo but was closed in 2015. Owner Alaa al-Jaleel took about 100 animals with him and reopened the sanctuary in Idlib. Reuters
Ernesto's Sanctuary was originally located in Aleppo but was closed in 2015. Owner Alaa al-Jaleel took about 100 animals with him and reopened the sanctuary in Idlib. Reuters
The expanded and fenced-off sanctuary in Idlib covers 2,000 square metres of the city, located close to the Turkish border in an area held by opposition forces. Reuters
The expanded and fenced-off sanctuary in Idlib covers 2,000 square metres of the city, located close to the Turkish border in an area held by opposition forces. Reuters
Ernesto's Sanctuary is named after a favourite cat of the Italian women who helped to set it up before the relocation. Reuters
Ernesto's Sanctuary is named after a favourite cat of the Italian women who helped to set it up before the relocation. Reuters
Leap of faith: a worker plays with a cat at Ernesto's sanctuary in Idlib. Reuters
Leap of faith: a worker plays with a cat at Ernesto's sanctuary in Idlib. Reuters
Medical workers examine a cat at a veterinary clinic in Ernesto's Sanctuary Syria. Reuters
Medical workers examine a cat at a veterinary clinic in Ernesto's Sanctuary Syria. Reuters

MENA

Syrian cat sanctuary offers animals refuge from war - in pictures

Ernesto's Sanctuary in Idlib cares for more than 1,000 felines

The National

April 01, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

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