How Zoo Miami is helping Ukrainian zoos care for their staff, animals during Russia’s war
.jpg "Zoo Miami on Friday announced that it is donating $10,000 to help zoos in Ukraine continue to care for their animals and staff during Russia’s invasion.")
Zoo Miami on Friday announced that it’s donating $10,000 to help Ukrainian zoos care for their animals and staff during Russia’s invasion.
The Miami-Dade zoo joins a growing list of zoos and other zoological institutions worldwide that are donating to the European Association of Zoos and Aquarias (EAZA) emergency relief fund to help Ukrainian zoos. Other U.S. zoos have also made donations, including ZooTampa, Dallas Zoo in Texas and the Fresno Chaffee Zoo in California, according to the association.
“We are grateful to the EAZA for establishing this emergency fund during this extremely distressing and challenging time. We hope that this small gesture helps provide the support needed for the people and animals of Ukraine. We hope for peace to prevail soon,” Zoo Miami Director Will Elgar said in a statement.
The funds will be distributed on a basis of need and will be used to “provide food and care to animals in conditions of relative welfare and safety, as well as providing support for care staff and management at the zoos,” states a news release.
The association distributing the funds says it has direct contact with Kyiv Zoo, whose staff (with family) have moved into the facility to care for stressed animals around the clock. The association also has direct contact with Myikolayiv Zoo, Kharkiv Zoo and indirect contact with other zoos in the country through the Ukrainian Zoo Association.
Zoo Miami has also been collecting supplies, including tents, flashlights and sleeping bags to help Ukrainian zookeepers during the Ukraine-Russia war, according to Miami Herald news partner CBS4.
If you would like to make a monetary donation to help the Ukrainian zoos visit:
https://useplink.com/payment/0QGQi3DTKejUifIrdVzHx.
Add Ukraine and your name (or your institution’s name) in the description box so the European Association of Zoos and Aquarias can acknowledge your donation.
Other South Florida organizations are also collecting donations to help the people of Ukraine, including the Greater Miami Jewish Federation and Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Miami.
This story was originally published March 18, 2022 at 5:32 PM.
