5 May 2022 – FOUR PAWS is once again providing urgently needed relief for zoos in Ukraine that have been affected by the ongoing war.

In early April, FOUR PAWS provided its first delivery of 20 tonnes of pellet food and dry hay for animals in Kyiv Zoo. Now, the global animal welfare organisation is delivering a second 20 tonnes of food to prevent zoo animals from starvation, as well as support for the remaining staff at the zoos caring for them.
 
This delivery is in partnership with the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB), who are transporting the supplies to Kyiv via Hungary. An ÖBB train left Vienna on 29 April and will bring the food to the Hungarian-Ukrainian border. From there, trucks will deliver the goods to Kyiv Zoo, which will distribute the supplies to six other zoos in the region.

The war in Ukraine continues without an end in sight, with the Ukrainian people and their animals suffering from the untold tragedy and horror of the conflict. At the beginning of April, a zoo in Kharkiv was heavily damaged by shelling. Many animals suffer from stress caused by the noise of the explosions and fighting.

 In March, FOUR PAWS was contacted by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources in Ukraine and requested to contribute to help deliver food to affected zoos in Ukraine. To provide some relief for the zoo animals during these challenging times, FOUR PAWS is sending 20 tonnes of pellet food and dry hay for zoo animals, including elephants, primates, grazers, and birds, to Kyiv Zoo. The zoo will store the food and then distribute it further to Kharkiv Zoo, Mykolayiv Zoo, Cherkassy Zoo, Odessa Zoo, Mena Zoo, and XII Months Zoo.

“The animals did not choose to be there. They are trapped. They are vulnerable and we need to protect them. We are very grateful to ÖBB for their support with this urgently needed supply delivery,” says Dr Amir Khalil.

ÖBB spokesperson Bernd Winter says: “We are very happy to support FOUR PAWS with the delivery of the food for the animals in Ukraine. The Rail Cargo Group is ready for any kind of help related to what we do best - transport and logistic services. This way, donations – in this case food for zoo animals in Ukraine – can reach their destination safely and reliably.”

Rebecca Linigen, National Director of FOUR PAWS in Australia, said the organisation remains deeply concerned about the armed conflict, and the impact on animals and people.

In addition to supplies for Ukraine’s animals, FOUR PAWS has successfully transported seven bears from high-risk locations to its own bear sanctuary. For more information on FOUR PAWS activities in Ukraine, visit our timeline of activities here.