Buy a ticket – feed the animals: Mykolaiv Zoo asks for help
Ukrainian zoos have found themselves in a difficult position during the war. Each institution’s management is looking for ways to overcome the crisis.
Volodymyr Topchyi, director of Mykolaiv Zoo, which is of national importance, asks citizens who care about the Zoo to buy tickets to help to save the animals from hunger.
The menagerie was closed to visitors on February 25, the second day after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Despite strong support from European zoos, Volodymyr Topchyi admits that keeping the zoo going under martial law is difficult.
For a relatively long time, the institution did not ask for help, but the situation is now deteriorating – animal nutrition has decreased by 35% compared to pre-war times.
Today, anyone can become a philanthropist by "going" to the zoo. The funds accumulated from the tickets will be spent on food for the animals.
You can make a charitable contribution by purchasing a ticket on the website by following the link. The cost is from 25 to 100 hryvnias.
The director of the zoo also provided bank details for those who wish to help the zoo:
КУ Миколаївський зоопарк
ЕДРПОУ 02219760
Благодійний рахунок
В Миколаївське РУ "Приватбанк"
МФО 305299
№UA683052990000026009001700927
It should be noted, on February 26, Mykolaiv Zoo, in line with the state position of Ukraine, left the Eurasian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which still includes Russian institutions.
"No Russian zoo has written, called, or expressed words of support. I believe that we can no longer be in an association with Russian zoos that are currently supporting the policy pursued by their state," – said the director of the zoo.
It should be noted that the zoo’s staff continue to work as normal to save the lives of animals. In doing so, however, every employee is risking his own safety.
According to Topchyi, the Russian aggressors dropped several shells and a cluster bomb on the zoo on the night of March 11-12.
"By noon, it turned out that the "gift" that night was not one.
Another shell fell into the bustard aviary, the second on the playground near the primates. Please deprive us of these "gifts". They are similar to Smerch and Uragan," – said the director of the zoo.
Fortunately, neither the zoo staff nor the animals were injured.
Further information:
Mykolaiv Zoo holds the largest collection of wild animals in Ukraine, and has an arboretum with more than 200 species of unique plants from around the world.
It is also home to "Ukrainian Safari", the only large-scale exhibition complex for big animals in our country.
The zoo is a shelter for 66 species of mammals, 85 species of rare animals, five species of large cats, 15 species of primates and more.
It should not be forgotten that the "Park of XII Months" in the Kyiv region is also in a critical situation.
