UKraine Chronicles 1 - My Bears )))

HI Everyone,
Today we start a completely new campaign to give the animals at the Kherson Zoo a chance at a better life. These animals did not choose to be where they are. Us humans put them there and now we need to make sure that they are taken care of. These animals live in what people call a "Zoo", but it is in fact nothing more than a concentration camp. LAEO Ukraine has started a project with the approval of the Mayor of Kherson and his administration to refurbish the current cages and enclosures.
The bears, 5 of them, an adult male of at least 25 years, 2 female adult and their 2 cubs. The females are at least 15 years old (no-one knows for sure because of the lack of documentation) and their 2 cubs are 5 months old. The adult male lives in a steel cage of only 3m x 6m and has been locked in there and never set foot on natural ground since the collapse of the Soviet Union which is 23 years ago and the other 4 bears share an enclosure of 4m x 6m. They do not have adequate running water and no way of cleaning their enclosures. The floor of the enclosures are also made of steel which is rusting and breaking up, the urine, feces and food all fall through these breaks in the floor which creates the most horrific stench.
Apart from the disgusting living conditions, a group of hunters that run a bear baiting station have been trying to aquire the bears to be used to train their dogs to hunt and kill the bears by ripping them to pieces. A circus in Ukraine has also tried to take the bear cubs which would result in them being de-clawed and de-fanged and taught to perform for audiences.
These are just some of the problems we facing.
Check back soon for updates and more information on the Kherson Zoo.