Dear Friends of the Kabul Zoo and the Afghan Animal Fund:
Your gifts to the N.C. Zoo Society's Kabul Zoo and Afghan Animal Funds have provided support to several recent projects in Afghanistan. Here is an update on some of the good works your donations and goodwill have sponsored. Thank you!
Kabul Zoo Fund:
Grants totaling around $12,000 were approved this month from the Kabul Zoo Fund to send Mr. Nick Lindsey (Senior Curator of the London Zoo) and Mr. Jim Gregory (Senior Keeper at the Whipsnade Wild Animal Park in Bedfordshire, England) to Kabul in early December. The funding enabled both men to work with city officials and the staff of the Kabul Zoo to make significant repairs, establish husbandry and administrative protocols and continue developing plans for permanent changes to the zoo.
A priority for this visit was to ensure that the Kabul Zoo is well-prepared to provide proper care for the animal collection during the winter months. Toward this end, Kabul Zoo Funds were used to hire a contractor to install electricity to all the dens and the stables that had been without power. Lights and heaters were installed where they were needed.
Significant repairs and modifications were made to Kabul Zoo buildings and exhibits. Among other things, a heated room was prepared to accommodate Kabul Zoo's bird collection should the weather become too cold for the birds to remain outside. Repairs and renovations fashioned another room into an education area and yet another room into a space for veterinary services.
New slides were installed in existing animal enclosures, which were also repaired. In addition, staff built and installed platforms in the lions' outdoor enclosure, providing the animals with an elevated area where they can look beyond their exhibit. The lions already spend a good part of their days stretched out on the platforms.
A similar platform was installed in the bear Sambu's cage. Staff reports that the infection that has plagued Sambu's nose is responding to treatment. The sores on her lips have dried, and the raw area on her nose has shrunk. Veterinary reports suggest that, while Sambu will continue to require treatments for several more weeks or months, she is getting better, and she should recover from this infection.
Two small brown bears now share the cage with Sambu, and reports indicated that the bears have adjusted quite well to each other's company. Mr. Gregory, particularly, spent significant time working with the bears and their keepers to establish good feeding and cleaning protocols. The staff also opened three dens for the bears to use.
A new Deputy Director was appointed to assist with the management of the Kabul Zoo. The Deputy Director comes to the position with extensive experience. At one time, he was the Director of the zoo, so he understands how the zoo operated when it was fully functional. Administrators have established management protocols for Kabul Zoo's three senior staff members: the Zoo Director, the Zoo Deputy Director and the Veterinarian. Plans are underway to find and appoint an Education Officer at the zoo very soon, as staff agrees that education must become a top Kabul Zoo priority.
Both Mr. Lindsey and Mr. Gregory provided very positive and complimentary reports concerning the good work that the Kabul Zoo staff has accomplished during the last several months. In addition, the Kabul Zoo reported that more than 210,000 paying customers have visited the zoo since April. During that same time period, officials waved admission fees for 1,500 school children.
Afghan Animal Fund:
A $25,000 gift from the N.C. Zoo Society's Afghan Animal Fund helped the Mayhew Animal Home complete the construction of a veterinary clinic in the city of Kabul. The clinic will provide care to domestic animals in the city and will also be used to help train veterinarians studying at Kabul University.
In addition, funds from the Afghan Animal Fund will soon be made available for the Brooke Hospital for Animals to use to build an outdoor extension to the Mayhew's new veterinary clinic. The extension will provide exterior holding and treatment spaces for Brooke personnel to use in caring for up to 30 horses and donkeys.
Thoughts for the End of the Year: Despite all the difficulties we have encountered this year as we have struggled to work as partners separated by oceans and by cultures, the year-end reports from Kabul ring strong with hope and with promise.
The Major of Kabul expressed this hope and promise in a recent meeting when he gave Mr. Lindsey and Mr. Gregory their own honey pots. According to the Mayor, the honey, which was made by bees at the Kabul Zoo, is a traditional gift and symbolizes the "sweetness of the relationship we hope to continue to have&"
The N.C. Zoo and the N.C. Zoo Society want to thank all of you, our very kind donors to these Afghanistan programs, for your generous gifts and your very kind support over the last many months. Your thoughtfulness has sweetened our hearts and has sent messages of hope, kindness and compassion to Afghanistan. Thank you.
May you find joy, friendship and peace in the New Year.
Sincerely,
Russell H. Williams
