All-Ukrainian conference devoted to the rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals

Last week an all-Ukrainian conference devoted to the rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals was held on the basis of Domazhyr Bear Shelter (Lviv Region).

Because of the war wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centers and zoological parks in Ukraine are overloaded with rescue requests. Participants from all over the country shared materials on the implementation of welfare standards and their own experience of working in the conditions of a full-scale invasion and new challenges.

Through training and knowledge sharing participants learned about best practices in wildlife rescue and welfare, approaches to staff and animal safety in emergency situations and veterinary support for rehabilitation centers.

Kyiv Zoo informed about the work in war conditions and problems we faced with the beginning of the racist aggression as the war exposed the problems of keeping wild animals in private institutions of Ukraine. We also talked about the work of the zoo’s Batteridae Rehabilitation Center, rescue of wild animals, work on the reintroduction of rare species and our experience in overcoming new challenges, and the introduction of modern approaches to the rehabilitation and maintenance of wild animals and the possibilities of involving rescue centers and zoos in conservation initiatives to preserve biodiversity.

We are grateful to all the participants who are ready to help animals, share their experience and improve the field of rehabilitation in Ukraine as well as the organizers.

The organizers of the conference are organizations with unique experience in implementing the idea of coexistence of people and wild animals: IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare), IBF Charity Organization “Save Wild”, Ukrainian Center for the Rehabilitation of Bats and Domazhyr Bear Shelter (Four Paws International).