Ukraine

 Special Report - Kyiv Zoo - Update April 2009

In September 2007, Kyiv Zoo was expelled from the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). Since 1997, the Zoo continually promised improvements but nothing was forthcoming, with the animals continuing to endure terrible conditions.

A disgraceful situation occurred in June 2007 when  former Director Holovin used rubber bullets to force a young female bear into the cage of the old female bear. The older bear tried to tear the young bear apart. The same director put his hunting dog into the enclosure of a fox for “training” and the fox was attacked and killed. Following this incident and failures to enact agreed improvements since 1997, EAZA decided to review the status of Kyiv zoo and withdrew its membership in September 2007.

Since January 2008, Kyiv Zoo, under new directorship, has been working towards regaining EAZA membership.  In order to achieve this goal, Kyiv Zoo must reach an acceptable standard of care for all its animals. In March 2008 and in October 2008, Naturewatch visited Kyiv Zoo and highlighted to the management the situation of the primates who are hidden away from the visitors (indeed in March 2008, we were refused permission to see where the primates were located as the director in charge  cited “quarantine measures in place”.  In October 2008, an employee was willing to show us the situation! The primates (approx. 80) are located indoors in holding enclosures because the outside enclosures are old and dangerous for both animals and visitors. These animals have been isolated indoors without environmental enrichment since January 2008.

The official Kyiv Zoo website lists having only 12 primates in its 'collection' - it neglects to mention the 80 primates located indoors! We expect Kyiv Zoo management to pay particular attention to these primates and they will not be allowed to hide them behind closed doors away from visitors. We urge the Zoo to adopt a transparent and true picture of the work it still needs to undertake if it wishes to regain EAZA membership. These primates must not be forgotten. 

Naturewatch is disappointed that, for most animals, conditions have not improved during the past 18 months and cautions that current standards remain poor and well below acceptable welfare standards.

These 3 images (taken in October 2008) show the giraffe, rhino and zebra enclosures void of enrichment of any description. This is a very basic, cheap and easy task to rectify but Kyiv Zoo appears extremley slow in making even these simple improvements.

We understand that Kyiv Zoo is striving for EAZA membership by 2012 as Kyiv is a host city for the UEFA European Football Championship (Union of European Football Associations). We truly hope it will achieve that goal for the sake of the animals. We will continue to monitor the situation at Kyiv Zoo and will produce another update later this year.    

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