With war raging Yemen as a whole, the war has left a bloody trail of innocent victims. Among the victims are innocent zoo animals locked away in obsolete concrete prisons.
These animals have no way out or any way to provide for themselves. They are completely reliant on the compassion of others. An e-support group of volunteers known as SOS Zoo and Bear Rescue first answered the call and has been fundraising led by Chantal Jonkergouw. Amazingly, SOS has managed to feed, water, and provide medications and veterinarian care since February. In June, a registered nonprofit A Lion's Heart led by the president, Amy Adams, has joined SOS Zoo and Bear Rescue to help with the increasing expenses incurred from providing for an entire zoo trapped in a war zone.
Unfortunately, it has become clear that this is not enough and a permanent solution must be found for the continued survival of these trapped animals. The bombs and fighting move closer everyday and there is no guarantee that the zoo will be spared. A bomb could easily take out, what is believed to be a third or more of the Arabian leopards left on earth, and many other endangered species.
To lose these animals would not just be a travesty but a moral crime knowing that there was an opportunity to save them. We have the means, we just need the permission. Even for only temporary asylum offered by DECAN, until the war is over, would save these animals. Therefore, I, Amy Adams, from A Lion's Heart am pleading for help with export permits. Time is short and I believe we have a moral obligation to protect these animals.
Please sign this petition to ask the Secretary-General of CITES to help us obtain export permits for these zoo animals who are trapped in a war zone!
To the Honorable John E. Scanlon Secretary-General of CITES:
As war and chaos continues to rage in Yemen and in Taiz in particular, the future for the animals remains bleak without intervention. We humbly ask for your assistance to obtain export permits for the zoo animals trapped in a war zone in Taiz Zoological Gardens in Taiz, Yemen. Even for tempororary asylum, it would save these most valuable and precious animals. As the bombs and fighting draws ever closer, we have no guarantee that the animals will be spared or that they will survive. We have several endangered species residing at the zoo and none probably as important as what is probably a third of the remaining population left of Arabian leopards, Pathera pardus nimr, on earth. I feel we have a moral obligation to protect these animals. So, therefore, we are pleading for assistance from you to obtain the permits to move these innocent and trapped animals to safety. Thank you in advance for any help you can provide.
Warmest Regards,
Amy Adams- President of A Lion's Heart
