05/04/2022 17:36 (act 05/04/2022 17:36)
These tapirs fared better than the big cats at a private zoo in Kharkiv. They can be evacuated while some predators need to be euthanized. ©Facebook/@FeldmanEcopark/via
In the city of Kharkiv, in eastern Ukraine, a private animal park had to euthanize many of its animals. After a fierce struggle, the zoo was seriously damaged.
The enclosures and all infrastructure were hit by artillery and air force, zoo founder Alexander Feldman said in a video message posted to Facebook on Tuesday. There is no way to transport the animals and save them.
A zoo near Kharkiv has to put its animals to sleep because of the war
Feldman called it a “miracle” that tigers, lions and bears have survived so far. However, their cages threatened to collapse at any moment and the predators would flee with them. “We can save the little jaguars and panthers, but we might have to kill all the adult animals,” Feldman said. Feldman Ecopark is a 140-hectare landscaped park in eastern Ukraine, established in 2013. Around 2,000 animals are housed on site.
Animals evacuated from Kharkiv
Kharkiv was one of Russia’s first targets
On February 24, Russia launched its internationally condemned war against Ukraine. The Kharkiv region – right on the Russian border – was one of the first targets. Battles for Ukraine’s second-largest city were fought particularly harshly, using air force and artillery. Large parts of the city were devastated and civilians died.