26.10.2021 – 14:06
FOUR PAWS – Animal Welfare Foundation
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Ukraine: Harmed tiger moved to Dutch big cat sanctuary
FOUR PAWS calls on the Ukrainian authorities to expand the scope of the animal protection law
Zurich, October 26, 2021 – On October 22, FOUR PAWS welcomed Cesar, an 11-year-old tiger, to the FELIDA Big Cats Refuge in the Netherlands. Cesar and five other tigers were confiscated by Ukrainian authorities in early 2020 after the animals were found starving in an abandoned private club. Tigers were abused there for years for entertainment and treated as real goods. After a short stint in an unsuitable wildlife refuge in Kiev, FOUR PAWS offered to transfer Tsezar to FELIDA.
In Ukraine, an addendum to the Law on Animal Protection, prohibiting the use of certain types of wild animals for recreational purposes, will enter into force in November 2021. In order to comprehensively protect wild animals, FOUR PAWS also urges the Ukrainian government to monitor the breeding and trade of wild animals and ban the presence of wild animals in circuses .
In the past, Tsezar was exploited with a tigress who might have been his sister for the purpose of intensive breeding. Unfortunately, the latter cannot be transferred to FELIDA. “Her young, raised in harsh conditions, were bottle-fed to facilitate sale. This cruelty to animals only ended when the owner simply abandoned them and animal rights activists brought this harm to the authorities’ attention. It is unacceptable that the owner should not bear any consequences for this act. We call on the authorities The Ukrainian government aims to prevent such cruelty by introducing comprehensive and stringent wildlife protection legislation,” says Barbara Van Geen, Head of Wildlife Rescue Operations at FOUR PAWS.
Before being rescued, Tsar lived in a small cage of 10 square meters located along a river and regularly flooded with muddy water. The six tigers in the private club were feeding on fish droppings and had little to no clean water. After a 2,000 km journey from Kiev to the Netherlands, the experienced team at Big Cats Refuge FELIDA will now work on Tsezar’s recovery.
Tigers are bred and traded in Europe and most countries around the world
“Tsezar is a tiger that we have been able to give a second chance so that he can live a life adapted to his species. We are pleased with this but we must draw attention to the sad reality of tigers all over the world: about 1,600 tigers live in captivity in Europe alone, while only 3,900 tigers live in the wild. We expose abuse and rescue and protect animals in need like Tssar. “In the long term, we can only end this cruelty if governments around the world commit to banning the trade in big cats and their body parts,” said Joseph Fabijan, Chairman of FOUR PAWS. “.
Despite positive developments in wildlife protection legislation inside and outside Europe, including Ukraine, many tigers and other wildlife are still kept and bred in private backyards around the world and used in circuses or for photo shoots. Animals are tortured for the purpose of entertaining humans, as pets, or to trade body organs, skin, and bones.
A home for large traumatized cats
FELIDA Big Cats Refuge in the Netherlands is one of the rescue centers for rescued wild animals operated by FOUR PAWS worldwide. It acts as a special care center for large cats with physical and psychological trauma. Big cats recovering from their past can be taken to the LIONSROCK Big Cat Sanctuary in South Africa. Others, who require lifelong special care, stay with FELIDA permanently. With the arrival of Tsezar, FELIDA currently offers a suitable home for eight lions and two tigers.
Au sujet de QUATRE PATTES QUATRE PATTES est l’organisation mondiale de protection des animaux sous influence humaine directe, qui révèle leurs souffrances, sauve les animaux en détresse et les protège. Fondée en 1988 à Vienne par Heli Dungler et des amis, l'organisation plaide pour un monde où les humaines traitent les animaux avec respect, compassion et compréhension. Les campagnes et projets durables se concentrent sur les chiens et chats errants ainsi que sur les animaux de compagnie, les animaux de rente et les animaux sauvages – tels que les ours, les grands félins et les orangs-outans – vivant dans de mauvaises conditions de détention ainsi que dans les zones de catastrophe et de conflit. Avec des bureaux en Afrique du Sud, Allemagne, Australie, Autriche, Belgique, Bulgarie, Kosovo, Pays-Bas, Royaume-Uni, Suisse, Thaïlande, Ukraine, USA et Vietnam ainsi que des refuges pour animaux en détresse dans onze pays, QUATRE PATTES fournit une aide rapide et des solutions durables. La Fondation est en outre un partenaire d'Arosa Terre des Ours, le premier refuge en Suisse qui offre aux ours sauvés de mauvaises conditions de détention un environnement adapté à l’espèce. www.quatre-pattes.ch
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Contact Médias Sylvie Jetzer Communication Suisse QUATRE PATTES Enzianweg 4 8048 Zurich 043 311 80 90 s[email protected]@vier-pfoten.org"/> www.quatre-pattes.ch
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