To commemorate World Animal Day on 5 October, Animal Planet will premiere Baghdad Zoo, a programme featuring Baghdad's El-Zawra Zoo, where many animals were caught in the crossfire during the recent Iraq war. The show will air from 10 pm to 11 pm.

The show will focus on the zoo animals trapped in enclosures, and their struggle to survive during the bombings and looting of the zoo, during and after the war.

The El-Zawra Zoo in Baghdad had great collection of animals till the war broke. During the war, they suffered greatly due to lack of medical attention. After the war too, hundreds of monkeys, reptiles and bears were stolen by looters.

Wildlife Trust of India's national coordinator of wild rescue Dr NVK Ashraf, who was part of the five -member zoo reconstruction team that visited El-Zawra Zoo soon after the war, said, "The Zoo was partially destroyed during the war. After the war ended, Zoo animals started getting medical attention from a team of international veterinary doctors who are voluntarily contributing to the cause. But a lot more needs to be done. The Zoo has also received donations from various voluntary organisations like International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and Society for Protection of Animals Abroad (SPANA)."

Baghdad Zoo will feature some heart-rending stories of these animals and what is being done to create a new, safer home for the remaining animals.

Commenting on the programme, Discovery Communications India director of marketing Aditya Tripathi says, "Baghdad Zoo is a true story of the emotional trauma and suffering of innocent animals accidentally caught in the crossfire. Animal Planet is committed to bringing real world television to its viewers through the most compelling and entertaining moments in nature."