#GetThereInTime
Rescuing animals during disasters – Europe
save human lives by saving animals before, during and after disastersHow IFAW is helping animals and people during the Ukraine crisis
November 24, 2023
Brave, an African leopard, successfully reached a rescue center in Spain after travelling over 3,600 kilometers (over 2,200 miles) in three days through five countries, leaving war-torn Ukraine.
The male big cat who is four years old, was found after his owner—a private exotic pet collector—evacuated eastern Ukraine, leaving Brave behind without food or water. Wild Animal Rescue in Kyiv rescued him, finding him emaciated and traumatized from nearby explosions.
IFAW supported Wild Animal Rescue in caring for Brave and organizing his transportation to the Poland-Ukraine border. From there, a team from AAP Animal Advocacy & Protection travelled with Brave to their specialised rescue center in Spain, where he will remain until they have found him a forever home.
This rescue is just one in a wider mission led by IFAW and Wild Animal Rescue to evacuate big cats and other wild animals. Earlier in June, a group of five lions was rescued from Ukraine, travelling for close to 20 hours before reaching safety at Poznań Zoo in Poland.
A mother lion, three-year-old Asya, was rescued from a private breeder while heavily pregnant and gave birth to three lion cubs in October 2022. Although the cubs—named Teddi, Emi and Santa—have had a traumatic start in life, they are fortunate enough to be together and to have had little human interaction. A male lion, two-year-old Viseris, was rescued from the same breeding facility but is believed to be unrelated to the others.
As soon as a suitable new home has been found, the lions will be transferred and live out the rest of their lives safely away from conflict.
October 31, 2023
Conserving critically endangered wild hamsters
Wild hamsters are critically endangered. That’s why the Breeding and Reintroduction Center of Protected Species at Kyiv Zoo, supported by the Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group, runs a conservation breeding program. Between April and December 2023, IFAW granted emergency financial assistance to the Center to help provide food, veterinary care and supplies, and equipment and crates for the hamsters.
Sadly, wild hamsters are often thought of as pests. Thanks to support from IFAW and UNCG, the Center has been able to launch rescue missions to catch hamsters found in gardens and release them either directly into the wild or to include them temporarily in the conservation program.
Rehabilitating and releasing swans
The Swan Shelter in Mezhyhirya, a public park located in the Kyiv region, cares for wild birds rescued from war-torn regions. IFAW has provided emergency funds to purchase food and feeding buckets and repair enclosures. After rehabilitation, the birds are released back into the wild when possible.
Several birds rescued during winter were released into the park’s ponds once it became warm enough. In March and April, 6 swans left these ponds to find new homes. Later in the spring, 12 more swans joined a bigger group of 11 in one of the ponds.
IFAW also supported Bird Shelter Niushannikovo in the Kyiv region, where 12 young swans were rescued and rehabilitated in the spring. They are now old enough to soon return to the wild.
August 31, 2023
A new home for a rescued beaver
In early June, a young beaver was found with a front paw fracture. She was transported to Wild Animal Rescue, a centre supported by IFAW in the purchase of food, veterinary medicine, and fuel costs for rescue and release missions.
The beaver’s paw unfortunately required amputation. By August, she was fully rehabilitated and ready for a new home. With no proper beaver sanctuaries available in Ukraine, a release team traveled to IFAW’s partner Nature Park Beremytske and identified a suitable wild beaver family which adopted her. She was microchipped before her release, and the park staff temporarily supervised her to ensure successful integration.
Reuniting dogs with their people
IFAW provides grants to Nova Ukraine, a Ukrainian charity that supports animals in shelters and works with local rescue centres, including Animal Rescue Kharkiv (ARK). Through their work, more than 150 pets were reunited with their families.
One such dog was Terry, whose family evacuated from Kozatskoe, a village in the south of Ukraine, to Germany. As the situation worsened, Terry needed to be rescued. The ARK team retrieved Terry, conducted a medical exam, administered vaccines, and chipped her. Later, she was reunited with her family in Germany.
Two dogs, Hrom and Dunai, spent five days floating on a raft with no food or clean water. At ARK’s veterinary clinic, they were examined and treated while the team attempted to track down their family. Sadly, their family had been forced to evacuate to Poland. Although Hrom and Dunai were not able to join them, they are now part of another loving home with soldier and animal welfare volunteer Natalia.
IFAW has been helping animals threatened by the intense conflict in Ukraine since February 2022. Thanks to overwhelming support from people around the world, IFAW’s work and that of our partners continues to make a difference for the animals and people impacted by the war in Ukraine and around the world.
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To see a list of resources for families fleeing Ukraine with their pets, click here.
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