The North Carolina Zoo Director, Dr. David Jones, just returned from a London meeting with officials from the World Society for Protection of Animals (WSPA) and the UK Zoo Federation. The purpose of the meeting was to begin laying out some long-term strategies for assisting animals living in the Kabul Zoo and other animals in Afghanistan.
Dr. Jones took several mementos with him to be passed on to the Director of the Kabul Zoo when zoo veterinarian John Lewis and London Zoo Curator Nick Lindsay are able to get into Kabul. (They are now there.) Dr. Lewis is taking veterinary supplies with him to allow him to operate on Sambu's nose (the Asiatic black bear), today.
The team will present the Kabul Zoo director and city mayor with a packet of goodwill items that was put together by the N.C. Zoo Society. The packet includes good wishes and drawings from students; copies of supportive e-mails from around the world; a fund-raising report from Spectavius Tobias Phillipe Alexander, a blind cat who organized a great fund-raiser and raffle for the Kabul Zoo; a proposal from artist Bob Coffee of Austin, Texas, to create a memorial sculpture of Marjan; and words of encouragement, praise and hope from so many of you -- our very generous donors.
At the WSPA meeting, it was determined that some immediate work needs to be undertaken to begin a rabies vaccination program for both domestic dogs and people in Kabul. Last year, 800 residents of Kabul died from rabies, and almost all of these people contracted the disease from domestic dogs. Because of the large expense of rabies vaccinations ($500, American dollars, for a person to receive the three shots required), WSPA intends to approach the United Nations to gain financial support for this important medical issue.
The Brooke Hospital for Animals Board has agreed to set up an equine clinic outside Kabul as soon as it is safe to do so. This clinic will rely on funding from our Afghan Animal Fund.
When Lewis and Lindsay arrive in Kabul, they will meet with the team of zoo professionals from the Cologne Zoo that have also been assisting the Kabul Zoo. Their work there has been supported by our donors' generous gifts to the Kabul Zoo Fund. The two teams will exchange notes and will prioritize the remaining work that needs to be undertaken at the Zoo.
Sincerely,
Russ Williams
Executive Director
P.S. If you have questions or would like to comment on these happenings,
please send email to jparker@nczoo.com. That
way, we can ensure that you receive a prompt response to your inquires.
