The Ukrainian people aren’t the only ones feeling the effects of the insistent and violent attacks by Russia, the zoo animals are facing the consequences as well.
Feldman Ecopark is facing the unthinkable decision to either re-home some of their big animals and risk attracting the attention of Russian troops, or euthanize them.
“Feldman Ecopark doesn’t exist anymore,” said Alexander Feldman, founder of the zoo, in a video posted to Facebook. The facility was bombarded by Russian shells, which damaged and/or destroyed many of the exhibits and had the potential to release some of the animals into the streets.
“Today we are deciding … we have time ’till evening, whether to put them all down or transport them somewhere else,” Feldman admitted. “Maybe we will save baby jaguars, baby panthers, but all adult animals will probably be liquidated.”
He noted that some of the animals could possibly be transported to Chutovo, another area of Ukraine. “Failing that, the only option left to us is to put the predators to sleep. It is unimaginably painful to talk about this, but the main priority now is the lives of people.”
The zoo stressed that this is not something they are taking lightly, or a decision to be made flippantly.
“We emphasize that the euthanasia of animals is an extreme measure, which, we very much hope, will not come to,” read a statement from the zoo. “Now we are negotiating with a large number of people and organizations, in particular, with those who can accept our animals in Ukraine and abroad. But the main problem lies elsewhere – how to get tigers, lions, bears and other large animals out of the “grey zone.”
One of the biggest problems they face, however, is the removal of the animals without alerting the Russians to what is going on.
“Such an operation requires the presence of special transport and the participation of a fairly large number of people. Which with a high degree of probability will attract the attention of the enemy, who, as a rule, responds to activity on the territory of the Ecopark with shelling,” the statement added.
Social media was saddened by the news:
This is so sad. But I can’t think of any other way to keep people safe 😢😢😢
— Yolanda Wilcher Cuyler 🌊 (@CuylerWilcher) April 6, 2022
Yes!
— Yolanda Wilcher Cuyler 🌊 (@CuylerWilcher) April 6, 2022
Hope they taken care in save place… Can’t stop my tears….my pray for them😭😭😭
— R Burton (@retnoburton) April 6, 2022
“Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. It is our duty to make the whole world recognize it.”
🐱🐶🐴💛💙♥️🙏
#animalLovers#UkraineBeFree pic.twitter.com/mqb0befnRk— Nicky (@Nickyschwenzer) April 1, 2022
😭😭😭😭💔💔💔💔 Watching these poor creatures makes my heart break. They are anorher innocent victims of this war, not aware of the evil of those who dare to call themselves humans. What about animal rights ?
— ANIUSIA (@AnnaBozym) April 1, 2022
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Sierra Marlee is a millennial whose hunger for the truth in a world of fake news has led her to BizPac Review.
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