UPDATE dec 28, 2016
THIS FUNDRAISER IS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE SEE OUR FACEBOOK PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION. https://www.facebook.com/SOSZooandBearRescue1/?...
All further donations can now be done to A Lion's Heart http://www.alionsheart.org/
They are taking over the project of Taiz Zoo.
UPDATE dec 22, 2016
PLEASE HOLD YOUR DONATIONS UNTIL WE HAVE A BETTER VIEW ON THE SITUATION. A TALK TODAY WITH A HIGH RANKING YEMENI GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL COMPLICATES MATTERS. THANK YOU.
UPDATE: dec 20, 2016
We have recently ceased our support to Taiz zoo until Yemen authorities give us permits for evacuating the animals to safety. We have two offers on the table, from UAE and Jordan, to host the animals for the duration of the war. We continue to pay for fresh water and for two people at our local NGO partner Tamdeen, who help us to find ways to get permits. Your donations will be used for this right now.. The remainder will stay in the SOS fund for use if we get permits or if another unexpected situation arises. I am personally also working hard behind the scenes to get these permits, but it looks bleak as Yemen is in disarray and also very uncooperative to give permits. Additionally, the Taiz area is still largely occupied by Houthi rebels, who will most likely never agree to an evacuation, nor let us carry out the operation without huge safety risks for the people involved.
Please realise this: I am just an individual who stepped up in February and kept the zoo alive together with my local partner, NGO Tamdeen. I can't and won't be held responsible for the fate of the animals or the actions of the Yemeni government and rebels. Behind the scenes, I am in regular contact with IUCN and some of the most experienced animal rescue figureheads in the world. I follow their advise. The only way now is that to stop feeding unless we get permits and full cooperation from the Yemen government and rebels.
The animals are currently not fed and are in the process of starving. Our field supervisor is still at the zoo daily to give water, but most of the zoo workers have already left to find other work to feed their families. We have paid them for ten months.
Additionally, the SOS fund is nearly empty and can't continue to cover the usd 3300-4000/week expense. Also, I believe that we have given Yemen lots of time to sort this out and we are also presenting them with two good options. It is their responsibility now to make the right choice. We can't be expected to take ongoing responsibility for their problems when they are not cooperative towards our proposed solutions.
I have warned EPA and CITES in Yemen that they are losing all support. Unless they do the right thing.
Our story:
Due to the worsening war in Yemen, Taiz zoo was abandoned and the 265 remaining animals, such as lions (17 plus two cubs!), leopards (26 plus two cubs) and others were starving. 11 lions and 6 leopards had already died. SOS has stepped in on February 12 to turn the situation around. We have succeeded, but each day is a new challenge.
These starving animals need your help. We need per day: meat at least 280 kg USD 350, 5.000 L cleaning water transport plus purchase of drinking water, plus veterinarians and medical care, payment of six zoo workers including a butcher, and an SOS zoo coordinator and field supervisor who is at the zoo six days/week. So minimum USD 3300/week plus special needs. Including costs for the herbivore and bird food (which the Yemen government stopped paying in September), the total is over usd 4.000/week. Since September, most of that has been covered by A Lion's Heart, whilst SOS continued to cover usd 3300/week.
Due to the war and the lack of perspective for the zoo, animal organizations are still not active in the area. We, the SOS Zoo and Bear Rescue group (Facebook) have a service agreement with Tamdeen Youth Foundation, who are based in Taiz and experienced in running projects for UN and WFP. Since February 12, SOS has supported the zoo with the above. Two SOS people from Tamdeen are working daily in and with the zoo. We need time to find a local solution, as the animals can't leave the zoo or Yemen. We need to keep them alive. We urgently need more funds for water, food, veterinary care, ongoing care. Please DONATE NOW! Any amount will help to make a difference.
FOR REGULAR UPDATES PLEASE VISIT OUR FACEBOOK PAGE https://www.facebook.com/SOSZooandBearRescue1/?...
Thank you for your support!
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