Ukrainian Zoos Amidst the War – The Threats and Challenges of Running a Zoo during the Military Conflict

Abstract

The Russo-Ukrainian War, especially the full-scale invasion started in 2022, has grossly affected the zoos in Ukraine. Present work gives a review of different aspects of zoo life amidst the war: threats for zoo animals and their enclosures, threats for zoo visitors, problems of zoo staff, challenges of supply, utilities, finances, evacuation and maintaining basic zoo functions. Main consequences of the war for the zoo community and the lessons we can learn from this experience are broadly discussed.