Fw: (AF) NEWS ZOO Kabul lion rescue AZA

[Guest guest]

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" Merritt Clifton, editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE. " <anmlpepl

The Raleigh News & Observer Wednesday, November 28, 2001 7:46 a.m. EST

 

N.C. zoo director leads fund-raising for Kabul zoo

 

ASHEBORO, N.C. (AP) -- The director of the North Carolina Zoological Park

here is leading an effort to raise money to keep a distressed Afghan zoo

operating.

 

The zoo in Kabul, Afghanistan, needs $5,000 a month to pay workers, and the

light bill and feed animals such as a one-eyed lion that needs 25 pounds of

meat a day.

 

An international coalition led by N.C. zoo director David Jones, is planning

to raise $30,000. The money is being collected in a special account set up

by the N.C. Zoo Society.

 

" The staff is there but hasn't been paid, " Jones told the Winston-Salem

Journal. " There's no power, there's no bedding for the animals. So there's

an immediate animal-welfare situation. "

 

The fund-raising is being overseen by the American Zoo and Aquarium

Association, which is also coordinating the international part of the fund

raising.

 

Jones was chosen to lead the effort because of his contacts in the region,

said Jane Ballentine, an association spokeswoman. Jones is also president of

the Brooke Hospital for Animals in London, working extensively with zoos in

the Middle East.

 

Jones " has the major contacts in this region. He feels confident that they

know the right kind of people who can get the money where it needs to go, "

Ballentine said. " Once the news gets out, we've had members from all over

the country asking what can we do, how can we help. "

 

Reports from Afghanistan talked of the Kabul zoo's plight and the injuries

animals have received in recent years. A lion was injured by a live grenade

that a soldier threw into its cage. An elephant was hit by a grenade that

another soldier launched at it.

 

The problems at the zoo weren't caused by the war, Jones said. But the war

has brought attention to the zoo's situation.

 

The Afghans are hoping that the American groups can raise the money from

zoos and zoo members, Jones said.

 

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U.S. Newswire 27 November 2001 15:50

 

American Zoo and Aquarium Association Members To Help Struggling

Kabul Zoo

Contact: Jane Ballentine of the American Zoo and Aquarium

Association, 301-562-0777, ext. 252; Rod Hackney of the North

Carolina Zoo, 336-879-7204

 

SILVER SPRING, Md. (U.S. Newswire) -- In response to

the overwhelming need for aid in Afghanistan, the American Zoo and

Aquarium Association (AZA) and its 201-accredited members are

putting plans in place to help the struggling Kabul Zoo. " We are

aware of the plight of the animals in Kabul and the dedication of

the staff to keep them alive and well, " stated Sydney J. Butler,

executive director of the AZA. " The professionals in the North

American zoo and aquarium community want to help in any way

possible, so we have joined forces with the European Association of

Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) and the World Association of Zoos and

Aquaria (WAZA) to send aid to the Kabul Zoo. "

 

Dr. David Jones, director of the North Carolina Zoo, is also

chairman of the board of the Brooke Hospital, the largest animal

welfare organization in Pakistan. " Because of the work we do in

Pakistan, we have a network of people who can assist in getting

funds, food and veterinary items to the Kabul Zoo, " said Dr. Jones.

" It is imperative that we have reliable mechanisms in place for

supporting this effort. As urgent as the need is for humanitarian

aid, there is also the need to help animals that have been

suffering during these times. As members of the international

zoological community, we feel that this is where our expertise and

efforts are best spent at this time. "

 

" It is our goal to send $10,000 from the zoo and aquarium

community here in North America. We will combine our funds with

monies raised from other international zoo, animal welfare and

conservation organizations with the hope of providing $30,000 in

the short term, " continued Butler. " According to our figures, this

will provide food, shelter and health care for the animals in the

Kabul Zoo, as well as paying the salary for the zoo staff, for the

next six months. During that time, we can reassess the situation

and ascertain what additional help may be needed. " Updates on the

situation will be available at www.AZA.org as information is

obtained.

 

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.