Themes by tag: animals

“Riding into the Future” project holds therapeutic horse riding classes for military personnel who have musculoskeletal disorders and amputated limbs after participating in combat.

The project was founded by a married couple of Oleksandra and Vasyl. Now Vasyl himself is at the front, so Oleksandra, together with Natalka, the founder of “DoloniDotyk” (a Touch of a Hand) NGO holds horse riding classes for wounded soldiers every week.

• animals
• casualties
• military
• volunteers
• Lviv

A lion has recently been evacuated to the Wild Animal Rescue Center in the Kyiv region from the Sumy region — the animal was in territory shelled by russians. Also, a lemur from Kherson city lives in the Center. He survived the occupation and a russian missile hit on the petting zoo where he was cared for. Now they and many other wild animals are recovering, the Center takes care of and treats them.

In general, since the beginning of full-scale invasion of the russian federation in Ukraine, the Wild Animal Rescue Center has hosted more than 600 animals of various species (lions, bears, tigers, wolves, leopards, wild birds, raccoons, etc.). The volunteers evacuated animals, in particular, from front-line zones and other dangerous territories.

• animals
• occupation
• volunteers
• Kyiv

Anna from Kharkiv is the owner of an equestrian school for children. Due to russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the horses began to run out of food, as hay remained in the occupied territory. In addition, there was enemy shelling, and one shell even hit the territory of the stable, but did not explode. The woman, together with her family, decided to evacuate the animals. (Her husband also rescued other people’s horses, sometimes the evacuation took place under fire. Today he continues to take animals out of hot spots).

They had to take their horses to Dnipropetrovsk region and Poltava region. Due to difficulties with caring for them, some animals were given to students and sold abroad. Later, the couple found a stable near Zhytomyr, where they decided to start anew.

• animals
• casualties
• Zhytomyr
• evacuation

Dogs of “Antares” canine search and rescue team are looking for people under the rubble of a multi-story building in Dnipro, which was destroyed by a russian missile on January 14. “Antares” is a working dog team based in Pavlohrad, Dnipropetrovsk region. Dogs are trained to search for alive and dead people in any conditions, even in areas of active hostilities. This is the only such unit that is sent to search and rescue operations by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Therefore, the team worked in almost all hot spots of Ukraine.

• animals
• dead
• Dnipro

Odesa Zoo functions despite frequent power outages due to rocket attacks by the occupiers on the country’s infrastructure. The institution has insulated enclosures for animals as well as potbelly stoves. The zoo also experienced a long-term power outage and lack of water (employees had made supplies in advance). In addition, the zoo has generators, coal and lots of firewood.

For reference: in September, Odesa Zoo celebrated its 100th anniversary.

• animals
• blackout
• Odesa

Ukrainian cat blogger Stepan, who, together with his owner, went abroad from his native Kharkiv due to the all-out war, has finally returned home. Cat Stepan collected money for Ukrainian shelters and zoos while staying abroad. Photos from the shelled city appeared on Stepan’s Instagram, where he has more than a million followers. The apartment where Stepan lives is located in Pivnichna Saltivka district, the area that has suffered the most from the russian attacks.

• animals
• volunteers
• Kharkiv

Generators, potbelly stoves were bought, and operation of the boiler house was arranged — the Kyiv Zoo is preparing for a difficult winter. So, for example, for the gorilla named Tony, a modern wood-burning stove (bullerjan) was installed. Therefore, his house will be warm if there is no electricity or gas. In addition, battery-powered lighting was installed for zoo visitors, so that in case of power cuts, they could come to the animals.

This year, 200 displaced animals who have been rescued from the war will also spend winter in the Kyiv Zoo.

• animals
• blackout
• Kyiv

Dozens of fish couldn’t survive the cold and lack of oxygen. Due to the blackouts, a lot of fish died in the state freshwater aquarium in Dnipro. (Journalists can see the bodies of dead fish kept in a freezer). In conditions of total lack of power, local workers even brought a gas cylinder and a burner from home to heat the water for the Nile crocodile named Hena lest he should catch a cold in a cold pool and die.

Power outages continue in the country and the fish in this aquarium continue to die every day. Also, species like piranhas and catfish get sick. Now biologists are treating them.

For reference: “Aquarium” educational and scientific complex is a part of Oles Honchar Dnipropetrovsk National University. It contains fish species collected from all continents of the world, except Antarctica.

• animals
• blackout
• Dnipro

In the SOS Shelter in Pyrohovo, Kyiv region, animals freeze to death due to electricity outages followed by heat interruptions. Cats take cold the hardest, and several animals have already died due to difficult conditions. Therefore, the administration of the shelter launched the fundraising to collect money for a generator to help the paws go through the winter.

For reference: SOS Animal Shelter in Pyrohovo is the oldest in Ukraine, it was founded in 1997 on the site of a former city landfill. For more than 20 years, the shelter in Pyrohovo has become a real home for paws. In the local veterinary clinic, animals are treated and sterilized.

• animals
• blackout
• Kyiv

Animal advocates launched fundraising for Bretsel’s evacuation to South Africa. During the recent missile attacks by russians in Kyiv oblast, the animal was scared by loud sounds, tried to escape and was injured against the cubicle. In addition to Bretsel, another 11 lions that were taken out of flash points and a bear are being collected for evacuation.

• animals
• russian crimes
• volunteers