Dear Kabul Zoo and Afghan Animal Donors
We have some great news for the horses and the other equines in Afghanistan! The Brooke Hospital for Animals, assisted by a $25,000 gift from donors to the Afghan Animal Fund, opened a mobile veterinary clinic in Jalalabad on January 21, 2003. In the tradition of the Brooke Hospital for Animals, the clinic will provide free veterinary care to equines and will help their owners learn how to care properly and humanly for their animals.
Also, a report arrived from Kabul Zoo on January 22 listing the many recent projects that have been completed with money donated to the Kabul Zoo Fund. Thanks to your gifts, all of the zoo's animals now have heaters in their off-exhibit spaces and new flooring has been added to the birds' cages. The safety and comfort of these animals has been further secured by replacing the exterior doors to the buildings that house these animals.
Workers at the Zoo have also replaced the exterior doors in storage areas and the administration building and have re-plastered and repainted many of the bomb-damaged walls.
The staff has also continued its efforts to protect the Kabul Zoo's animals from unruly visitors. A barrier was recently erected behind the monkey exhibit to keep visitors back and away from these animals. And, a new education officer has been hired at the Kabul Zoo. One of this educator's goals will be to help visitors learn to respect the animals at the zoo and also learn to appreciate Afghanistan's wildlife, domestic animals and all other life.
The Kabul Zoo Fund will pay the salary of this employee for the next three years. The Fund is also paying salary supplements to other Kabul Zoo staff, but we expect the City of Kabul to take over this responsibility later in the year.
As an interesting side note, the son of the former King of Afghanistan, Zahir Shah, visited the Kabul Zoo recently and was given a tour by Sher Agha, the Kabul Zoo Director. Mr. Agha described the prince's visit this way, "When he saw the heaters for the animals, he became very happy and said 'thanks very much'!"
What more can we say to you, our donors, than "thanks very much!" You have given warmth and comfort to animals that would otherwise have suffered in the cold.
One more bit of good news. Zoo planners have adopted a plan for renovating and repairing all the major exhibits at the Kabul Zoo. These renovations will begin as soon as the weather allows -- probably in April. The budget for these renovations has been set at $200,000.
All of this money will come from the Kabul Zoo Fund. This construction project, which will improve the living conditions and exhibit spaces of all the animals at the Kabul Zoo, should be completed by the end of the year.
Again - Thanks very much for your contributions to help the people and the animals of Afghanistan. The Kabul Zoo will be a monument to your kindness and generosity.
Sincerely,
Russ Williams
Executive Director
