Odesa Zoo accuses animal rights activists of pressure and fakes

Odesa Zoo accused animal rights activists of fakes that block the work of the institution. Because of this, employees cannot fully care for the animals.

This was reported by the press service of the Odesa Zoo.

The zoo administration has officially reported systematic abuse of the right to appeal by certain groups of people who publicly position themselves as animal rights activists. According to the management, these people repeatedly submit complaints and applications to state and law enforcement agencies, spreading fake accusations that are not confirmed by any checks.

Due to such activities, the institution is forced to constantly undergo audits, which distracts staff from caring for animals and creates artificial tension among employees.

According to the press service, the staff continues to provide care, treatment, and rehabilitation of animals, rescuing them during crisis situations. The zoo also took in pets of people who left the country at the beginning of the large-scale invasion, helped animals from the Kakhovka region after the tragedy, and birds affected by the environmental disaster in the Black Sea.

According to the administration, the accusations spread by animal rights activists have signs of manipulation and are used to demand the transfer of animals to other zoos or the actual termination of the institution's activities. These actions have no legal or expert justification and pose a threat to the existence of the Odesa Zoo.

The management of the institution emphasized that the technical and financial documentation was handed over to the investigating authorities, and the administration is cooperating with the investigation. The zoo reserves the right to take all legal measures to protect itself from disinformation and abuse of state control mechanisms.

Last year, in November, the Prymorskyi District Prosecutor's Office opened criminal proceedings against the director of the Odesa Zoo , Ihor Bilyakov, who was accused of animal cruelty. This was done following a statement by the NGO UAnimals. At the time, the zoo's lawyers were preparing a lawsuit about damages to the municipal institution due to the attacks by animal activists.

In January, the court arrested the buildings of the Odesa Zoological Park on suspicion of misappropriation of local budget funds. The case concerns possible embezzlement during the overhaul of the heating system.

Анна Бальчінос