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https://theconversation.com/russias-war-in-ukraine-has-been-devastating-for-animals-but-theyve-also-given-the-nation-reason-for-hope-231929>
"Russia’s war in Ukraine has caused immense suffering to the civilian
population. Tens of thousands are believed to have been killed, though an exact
figure is impossible to know. Russia’s aggression has also sparked the biggest
refugee crisis in Europe since the second world war, with 6.5 million people
fleeing Ukraine since February 2022.
What has received far less attention has been the impact of the war on the
country’s animal population.
With an estimated 25% of Ukraine’s protected nature areas occupied by Russian
forces, entire ecosystems have been disrupted or destroyed. Some biologists
believe tens of thousands of Black Sea dolphins have been killed, though
verifying this has proved to be difficult.
Given the destruction to natural landscapes and wildlife, Ukrainian authorities
have discussed ways to pursue a war crimes case against Russia based on
“ecocide” – unlawful attacks on the environment that can lead to long-term
impact on ecosystems and wildlife.
As for domestic animals, there were approximately 5.5 million cats and 750,000
dogs in Ukraine before the war. Many have been killed or abandoned by their
owners, causing the stray population to explode.
In response, many organisations have launched efforts to help shelter and treat
wounded animals.
When Russia launched a new offensive in the Kharkiv region in May, for
instance, local authorities and volunteers leapt into action to try to evacuate
pets left behind, some locked in cages or chained in yards, others roaming
free.
Many Ukrainians fleeing the country, meanwhile, have taken their pets with
them, as the only remaining connections to their homes and their pasts."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
