Scientologist Lawrence Anthony announces $1 million fund-raising campaign to modernize Baghdad Zoo into a 21st century habitat

Lawrence Anthony (left), Scientologist and owner of a South African game reserve, worked with the Baghdad Zoo director to save the war-ravaged animals in the largest zoo in the Middle East.

Scientologist Lawrence Anthony has spent the last decade convincing Zulu chiefs to put the endangered black rhino in game reserves and profit from tourism rather than from continuing slaughter of the native animal.

In April 2003, the plight of the animals in Baghdad pulled Anthony from this work and his home in the bush of South Africa to war-torn Iraq just days after the battle for Baghdad.

Overcoming every “can’t be done” to gain authorized entry into Iraq as a volunteer administrator for the Baghdad Zoo, Anthony enlisted a team of local Iraqis and, with the support of U.S. forces, rescued the zoo’s ravaged inhabitants, as well as rounded up animals from Hussein’s private zoos where animals were dead and dying. Then he turned his sights to the next task: providing the animals a 21st century permanent home that befits their dignity.

That brought him half-way across the globe to Los Angeles, where on May 28, he announced the launch of a $1 million fund-raising campaign to achieve his goal.

Through a consortium of support organizations and foundations, Anthony is confident he can do so, and rapidly. He has already secured pledges and assistance from the American Zoo Association, WildAid, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Scientology Environmental Task Force, the U.S. Army in Iraq and private individuals.