Ukrainian Zookeepers Forced To Consider Euthanasia For Large Predators While Under Invasion From Russia
When Russia started its unprovoked unjustified invasion of Ukraine, the obvious concern and attention were on those residing in the regions under attack and getting them to safety. As the invasion still rages on, hundreds of thousands of people have witnessed the loss of homes and loved ones, with an estimated 46,000 people dead, and 14 million displaced.
What wasn’t really considered until recently, were the captive animals in rescues and zoological parks. Specifically, large carnivorous predators, like lions, tigers, and bears (oh my).
According to CBS News, Russian shelling in Kharkiv, as the invasion of Ukraine entered its second month, destroyed enclosures at Feldman Ecopark, a zoo in Kharkiv, Ukraine. This shelling caused the zoo owners and keepers to consider the unimaginable: Euthanasia.
While Feldman Ecopark has been working tirelessly between shellings to move the animals still living at the zoo to safe locations, they shared that they were planning to euthanize the remaining animals if new homes and transport for the animals weren’t found.
Alexander Feldman, the founder of Ecopark shared a statement on the Ecopark website with an update on the current state of the zoo, in which he sadly conceded that Feldman Ecopark "doesn't exist anymore," due to the damage sustained from the Russian attacks. Feldman also shared in the statement that several large predators "miraculously" survived the shellings but would need to be put to sleep if they cannot come up with transport and temporary housing.
According to Feldman, the zoo was considering this "unimaginably painful" decision due to the concern that the animals will escape into Kharkiv if the enclosures take more damage. And those living in Kharkiv and surrounding villages have enough to deal with without the presence of large predators who are “distraught with fear."
This story doesn’t end here, thankfully. Keep scrolling to read more, and see pictures and videos from Ecopark as their efforts continue to unfold.
Lionesses at Ecopark before the Russian invasion
While there are plenty of facilities that would be able to take on these animals, the issue was the logistics of getting them out of Kharkiv. Feldman reported, “Such an operation requires the presence of special transport and the participation of a fairly large number of people.”
Feldman grimly reminded those outside the park that with many people gathering together, they all risk attracting the attention of Russian troops, “who, as a rule, responds to activity on the territory of the Ecopark with shelling.”
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Pictures from recent shelling, alarmingly close to damaging the lion enclosure
The entire situation was becoming increasingly dire for the large predators of Feldman Ecopark while shelling continued. Feldman sadly shared the heartbreaking consequences if they couldn’t arrange these transports.
“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.”
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Video from Ecopark's Facebook showing and explaining how the Russian shelling is putting their animals in danger
This video shows the last "arrivals" to the enclosures of large predators: as you can see, a little more - and the lions could be outside the enclosure. We emphasize that the euthanasia of animals is an extreme measure, which, we very much hope, will not come to. 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". 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. Now this is the most important thing - how to organize, if at all possible, the safest possible removal of predators.
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One of the six tigers that live in Ecopark
Amazingly, Feldman’s dire report inspired a worldwide response, bringing hope to what once seemed hopeless.
In one of many updates on Facebook, Feldman Ecopark shared, “A large number of Kharkiv, Kiev, Odessa, Dnipro residents, representatives of many other cities and countries offered their help – it is simply impossible to list them all.”
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Poor cheetah was scared and confused, but safely transported shortly before shelling damaged their enclosure
These cheetahs are very lucky: they had been taken out just before the massive shelling of the Ecopark during which their aviary was destroyed. In case this happened a bit later, they could die or find themselves free, which would not augur well nor for them, nor for people who could meet the animals. Now they are doing well: they began to settle in their temporary dwelling near Poltava. We wish such a happy end for the maximum number of stories of salvation from war and shelling of our animals, so that we continue to work on their evacuation from the “grey zone”. And due to the support of our numerous friends, the issue of placing the animals in zoos and other convenient places for their housing in different regions of Ukraine is solving.
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This gorgeous lion waits on a truck to be moved to a safer area
The evacuations of all the animals at Ecopark continue, in spite of the dangerous conditions. More than eighty animals have been safely relocated since Feldman spoke of the possibility of euthanizing their predators.
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Check out the video of the folks at Ecopark moving lions to safety
Transporting lions is not an easy task. Especially when animals have been under stress from shelling for more than a month and, in general, from the fact that their calm and measured life has changed dramatically. But we coped with this, the main thing is that we safely left the shelling zone and neither people nor animals were injured.
We received a lot of suggestions about where they can be settled - many thanks to all colleagues and friends for their help and understanding! There are still many animals on the territory of the Ecopark - everyone who is ready to financially support their further evacuation can do it here: https://feldman-ecopark.com/en/donation/
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The team behind the hard work moving these dangerous animals
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Those behind the social media page continue to update the world on their efforts to relocate their animals to safety
The process has begun and continues successfully! Today, our team in a fairly wide composition broke through to the territory of the Ecopark. And although there were shelling again, this did not prevent us from evacuating five lions and some other animals.
A lion and lionesses today, two young lions, a jaguar and a panther yesterday - the rescue of our large carnivores is proceeding at a good pace. Thank you to our team working boldly here in the gray zone.
Thanks to everyone who responded and agreed to shelter our animals, thanks to the people who help us with technology, equipment, and finances. We were not left alone with our problem, we just feel great support - and we will do everything so that the animals are saved and find a new home.
Hopefully, temporarily - until our victory and the restoration of the Ecopark.
Those at Feldman Ecopark couldn’t be more grateful for the overwhelming response that has helped their team and volunteers give these amazing creatures a chance to live.
“Thanks to everyone who responded and agreed to shelter our animals, thanks to the people who help us with technology, equipment, and finances. We were not left alone with our problem, we just feel great support – and we will do everything so that the animals are saved and find a new home.”
If you wish to donate to help with the continued relocation and care of these animals visit Feldman Ecopark’s donation page. And share this story to continue to get their message out for more help.
