UPDATE ON EFFORTS TO AID THE KABUL ZOO By Jane Ballentine, Public Affairs Director American Zoo & Aquarium Association
SILVER SPRING, MD– In order to use the resources most efficiently, the International Zoo Team put together by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), the British Federation of Zoos (Federation), the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA) is awaiting a full report on the needs of the Kabul Zoo from our partners in the effort, the World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), before finalizing arrangements for the next stage of assistance.
“Using their United Nations-affiliated status, WSPA has been able to get four of their experienced animal staff, headed by John Walsh, into Afghanistan,” noted Dr. David Jones, director of the North Carolina Zoo and head of the AZA effort in the U.S. “The WSPA group has been looking after the immediate needs of the animals and staff at the Kabul Zoo with funds collected by the zoo community, largely from the American public.”
“Since the start of the effort we have provided WSPA with $45,000 for the zoo and other, wider animal needs,” Jones continued. “They are taking stock of the situation, the animals’ living conditions and staffing issues. They are also regularly providing us with information which will enable decisions to be made about the next stage of the venture.”
Jones added that additional funds will soon be released to enable the WSPA team to hook up water and power supplies to the zoo from a nearby source. Current reports from the WSPA team to Dr. Jones, indicate the following:
-The team confirmed that the Kabul Zoo’s keepers and staff were courageous and loyal in trying to care for the animals. Until the donations provided by the AZA fund arrived in Afghanistan, none of the keepers had been paid for more than six months. Even so, these keepers continued to work part-time to provide what care they could for these animals. They begged, borrowed and did whatever they could to find food for the animals as well as for themselves and their families.
-Contacts in Afghanistan told Jones that the Kabul zookeepers are the only city employees who have been paid in the last six months. “Your gifts gave these people their back salaries and reinstated them as full-time employees. The mayor of Kabul expressed his deepest gratitude for your generosity and compassion,” Jones wrote in a recent letter to Kabul Zoo fund donors.
-Marjan the lion is wobbly and thin, but his appetite is very good, and thanks to the generosity of the donors, he is eating regularly and well. Initial impressions suggest that Marjan’s stiffness is probably due to his age (estimated to be in the early 20’s) and the cold temperatures. Kerosene heaters will soon be sent to Kabul to rectify that problem and the fundraising group is working with WSPA to provide any other forms of heating that may be practical.
-The WSPA workers suspect that Marjan is blind in both eyes, not just one eye, as was originally reported. His blindness probably affects his unsteadiness, as Marjan often stumbles when entering his night quarters. He probably can no longer see the threshold and WSPA workers are installing a ramp so he can ease his way indoors.
All of Marjan’s facial wounds appear to have healed and there is no indication they require any medical treatment. Because of his age, anesthesia could be very risky.
-Although not able to confirm her name, the Asiatic black bear has a significant wound on her nose. Abuse from zoo visitors probably initiated the wound, which she further inflamed by rubbing her nose against her cage. The WSPA team has already applied topical anti-inflammatory and antibiotic medications to her wounds and has set up barriers to stop any further abuse from people. The team is watching her wounds carefully. If they do not respond to the current treatments, WSPA will use a mild sedative to calm the bear enough to allow additional treatments.
-Part of the funding provided to WSPA will be used to hire a welder for work needed to move the bear to her new enclosure and to do other zoo repairs. That funding will also buy equipment and supplies for other zoo animal needs.
-Evergreen Aviation, a U.S.-based humanitarian aid group has offered space to the Kabul Zoo team on their flight into Kabul, scheduled for next week. Don Winstel, Assistant Zoo Director/Conservation and Education of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, will be taking part in this trip. The Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and the Oregon Zoo in Portland, Oregon, are donating cleaning supplies, along with enrichment items that have been gathered by staff and volunteers. Food for the zoo, donated by Purina Mills, will also be on board the flight. The Kabul Zoo Fund is also sending the aforementioned kerosene heaters on this flight.
It is still expected that the British Royal Air Force (RAF) will provide transportation into Kabul for the International Zoo Team as soon as they can be assured of safe passage. That team will be led by Dr. Ehsan Arghandewal, former Dean of the Science Faculty at Kabul University. The University established the Kabul Zoo 30 years ago. Dr. Arghandewal, a zoologist, fled to Germany when the Taliban came to power. Other team members include:
Taufik Nuri, a native of Afghanistan who is currently working at the Cologne Zoo, Cologne, Germany. Nuri was head keeper at the Kabul Zoo and is very familiar with the site. Dr. John Lewis, a veterinarian with extensive experience of wild animal medicine. He is a previous veterinary officer at the London Zoo and has been in private specialist practice, connected with both wild and zoo animals for many years. Lewis works frequently in difficult conditions, including work in central and southern Asia. The American Zoo and Aquarium Association was founded in 1924 and currently represents 201 accredited zoos and aquariums in North America. AZA’s mission is to support membership excellence in conservation, education, science and recreation.
The North Carolina Zoological Park is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and an accredited member institution of AZA. -- 30 --
Editor’s Note: In November 2001, the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA) joined forces with the British Federation of Zoos (Federation), the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA) to raise funds to provide resources to the animals and staff of the war-torn Kabul Zoo. On behalf of the AZA, this international effort is being led in the U.S. by Dr. David Jones, director of the North Carolina Zoo, and chairman of the Board of the Brooke Hospital, Pakistan’s largest animal welfare organization.