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WAZA Donates 10,000 euros to European Relief Fund for Ukrainian Zoos
Posted: 26 April 2022
A fundraising campaign led by the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) continues to provide opportunities to support Ukrainian zoos during the war. After more than a month since the Russian invasion started, the global zoo and aquarium community remains concerned about the situation of people and zoos the institutions in Ukraine. That is why several members of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) have contributed to the EAZA Fund. In early April, WAZA contributed with a donation of 10.000 euros.
WAZA has been in contact with EAZA and with the President of the Association of Zoos of Ukraine and Director of Nikolaev Zoo, which is our member. The European association has raised over 1 million euros through the EAZA Ukraine Zoos Emergency Fund, last updated April 20th. The funds are used to provide food and care for animals as well as to support care and management staff. WAZA encouraged its members to donate to the fund once EAZA opened it.
Based on recent updates of EAZA, the following zoos have received direct financial aid: Askania Nova Nature Reserve, Berdyansk Zoo, Feldman Ecopark, Kharkiv Zoo, Kyiv Zoo, Mena Zoo, Mykolaiv Zoo, Odesa Biopark, Rivne Zoo and ZooMir Bilytske. The first phase of assistance included funds to buy food and veterinary supplies as well as for fuel and transport to get them.
Ongoing conflict
Ukrainian zoos are still suffering a complex situation. In the West, the withdrawal of defeated Russian forces has reduced direct threats, according to EAZA’s last update, but indiscriminate bombing and artillery attacks continue, still threatening animals and zoos’ staff. The animals are receiving food and care, and the zoos are not asking for them to be relocated. In the East, offensives still threaten the zoos in or near Kharkiv. Some institutions have been severely damaged, such as the Feldman Ecopark. The animals remaining on site are fed daily and the zoo has plans to evacuate them when it becomes possible.
WAZA will continue to pay close attention to the situation expecting it to improve.
The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) is the global alliance of regional associations, national federations, zoos and aquariums, dedicated to the care and conservation of animals and their habitats around the world.
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