Zookeepers in the war-torn Ukrainian city of Kharkiv may have to put down all their large animals.
As reported by The Independent, Feldman Ecopark says it has been bombed incessantly by invading Russian forces over the past five weeks. While some animals have survived the attack, the facility has been devastated, making it all too easy for them to escape and roam free in the surrounding residential areas.
Park owners have therefore been left with little choice but to consider euthanizing the dangerous predators at the park - saying that if help does not arrive within the next few hours, lions, tigers, and bears could all be put down so that they cannot pose a risk to humans in Kharkiv.
However, there is still hope that some of the animals could be saved and transported to other facilities. Alexander Feldman - who owns the Feldman Ecopark - took to Facebook to talk about the zoo's plight, and the heartbreaking decision they may soon have to make.
"Feldman Ecopark no longer exists. Now this can be said quite definitely. Yesterday and today it was again subjected to massive shelling and bombardment. Infrastructure destroyed, enclosures destroyed," Feldman began.
"The biggest problem is large predators. Their enclosures miraculously still retain their integrity, but one more shelling - and the lions, tigers, bears, distraught with fear, may be free and go towards Kharkiv or to nearby villages," he continued, adding: "We cannot allow this."
He went on to say that experts were working towards providing temporary housing for the animals, but that "failing that, the only option left to us is to put the predators to sleep."
"It is unimaginably painful to talk about this, but the main priority now is the lives of people," Feldman concluded, before making a plea for help in evacuating the surviving animals.
However, all hope is not lost; in a video update several hours later, Feldman shared the news that they had managed to evacuate two lions, a panther, and a jaguar thanks to an outpouring of support.
"Transport is already coming to us, the necessary cages are coming, people are coming who are not afraid to take animals out of the shelled zone, our pets are ready to receive in many places," he said.
"We still need all sorts of help: physical, logistical, financial, animal feed, etc. But such broad support gives hope that we will be able to save the maximum possible number of animals," the zoo owner added.
If you would like to know how you can support the Ukrainian people at this time, click HERE to find a list of organizations and groups dedicated to helping those affected by this crisis
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