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| South African team off to assist Baghdad Zoo
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Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) -
A South African emergency relief
team left Thursday for Baghdad to save animals and help restore
infrastructure at the war-ravaged Baghdad Zoo.
Capetonian Mariette Hopley is leading a team assembled by the
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) which is sending a
group of five logistics and zoo management specialists to Baghdad
to help establish a medium to long term plan to ensure the
welfare of the remaining zoo animals.
"Baghdad's infrastructure has completely broken down so our team
will be taking in everything we need -- from sleeping bags to
MRE's (meals ready to eat) and even lavatory paper," said Hopley
shortly before her departure.
Hopley, a former South African Air Force major, said once in
Baghdad the team would do an initial assessment and any extension
in their stay would be based on that.
"My job will be to provide logistical support in terms of
sourcing and establishing a steady food supply for the zoo
animals, looking after the needs and safety of our team and
supporting the zoo staff in setting up a practical system to
ensure the smooth running of the zoo during the months of
transition ahead," she explained.
IFAW's Director of Emergency Relief, Sarah Scarth observed that
the rescue effort at Baghdad Zoo so far has been almost entirely
led by South Africans.
She said Lawrence Anthony of Thula Thula Game Reserve in KwaZulu-
Natal is the first person from South African who has been there
helping since 23 April.
He had received permission from the US military to close a
smaller zoo where animals were living in dreadful conditions and
to move them to the main Baghdad Zoo where they are now being
cared for.
"Lawrence and his team have done an amazing job under extremely
difficult circumstances and have organised daily supplies of food
and water for both the animals and the zoo keepers," said Scarth.
IFAW is also collaborating with the American Zoo and Aquarium
Association (AZA) in putting together a long-term plan for the
Baghdad zoo.
AZA, which is the largest zoo association in the world, is
already coordinating the rehabilitation of the Kabul Zoo in
Afghanistan.
Animals being cared for at the Baghdad Zoo include 19 lions,
tigers, brown bears, wolves, foxes, jackals, camels, ostriches,
badgers and some primates.
The animals were left severely traumatised, with no food and
water following the recent strife in Iraq.
Looters stole most of the zoo equipment and zookeepers were
unable to provide any support for the creatures in their care.
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| Cape Town - 29/05/2003 |
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