Ukraine's Zoo is Battling the War too

Summary

Ukrainian zoos, such as Feldman Ecopark and Kyiv Zoo, are facing dire circumstances as the war has led to animal casualties, trauma, and a desperate scramble for survival and care amidst the chaos.

Abstract

The ongoing conflict in Ukraine has taken a severe toll on the country's zoos, where animals have been killed by bombs and those surviving are suffering from extreme stress and fear. The situation has forced zookeepers to take extraordinary measures, such as sedating distressed elephants, moving animals indoors for safety, and even stepping in as surrogate parents for abandoned newborns. With the Ukrainian people and animals alike innocent victims of the war, the dedication of zookeepers has become a poignant aspect of the humanitarian crisis, as they remain with the animals, sometimes with their own families in tow. The war's impact on these captive wildlife populations underscores the broader destruction of the conflict, affecting all forms of life and highlighting the interconnectedness of human and animal suffering.

Opinions

The war's impact extends beyond human casualties to include the innocent lives of animals in zoos, which is a tragedy often overlooked in the broader conflict.
The distress experienced by the animals, such as the elephant Horace and the zebras, reflects the profound psychological effects of war on all living creatures.
The actions of the Ukrainian zookeepers, who have moved into the zoo and even brought their families, demonstrate a deep commitment to the welfare of the animals under their care.
The outreach by a Ukrainian zookeeper to a colleague in Israel, a country familiar with war, shows foresight and a proactive approach to preparing for the potential consequences of conflict on zoo animals.
The situation at the zoos serves as a stark reminder of the helplessness of animals in war zones, with no possibility of seeking shelter or crossing borders to safety.
The reference to Simon and Garfunkel's song "At the Zoo" juxtaposes the carefree image of zoos in peacetime with the grim reality faced by these institutions during war.

Ukraine's Zoo is Battling the War too

Photo by Panchenko Karyna at Pixabay (a wolf before the war began)

The war in Ukraine is horrific on all fronts. Two million have fled the country. Collateral damage is everywhere, including zoos in Feldman Ecopark and Kyiv.

At Feldman Ecopark zoo bombs landed in the facility and killed some animals. In Kyiv, cluster bombs landed nearby, and the animals were terrified and traumatized.

Animal safety in a zoo is not something that is top of mind while watching this tragedy unfold. Then you learn about it and see deeper into this developing nightmare.

The inexplicable destruction of humanity, the environment, and animals are all rolled into one chaotic horror show.

As reported by the Washington Post, Horace, the elephant needed to be sedated. He was in such distress. Zebras were so freaked out from the tumult and sounds of war they ran into their fence. Probably desperate for a way out. The zookeepers moved them indoors to calm these striped wonders. A lemur deserted her newborn and zookeepers became the baby’s nurturer.

The Ukrainian people provoked no one in this war, and the animals certainly didn’t do a damn thing. For the zookeepers, this has become their front-line stance. The Kyiv zookeepers have moved into the facility to be with the animals as their human companions. Sometimes, zookeepers have brought their families as well.

One zookeeper had the smarts to reach out to a colleague at a zoo in Hafia, Israel. Another country well acquainted with war. He sought out “what-if-this-war-happens” advice. He decided to stock up on supplies for the animals. Good call. Yet, that will only go so far, as access to food and materials is depleted and roads become impassable. All supplies will become scarce. But at least he wasn’t scrambling from the start.

The bottom line is these zoo animals can’t go anywhere for shelter. There are no bomb shelters for elephants and giraffes. They are no boundary crossings available. There have to stay put. This population has no options.

Coincidentally, the other day a Simon and Garfunkel song streamed through my Spotify feed, “AT THE ZOO”.

The first stanza starts like this: Someone told me it’s all happening at the zoo I do believe it I do believe it’s true

I only wish the rest of the song’s delightful description of the animals and the joy of seeing them were true.