Statement on the war in Ukraine

The European Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians (EAZWV) is committed to helping vets help wildlife. The association represents over 600 vets, vet students and researchers working in wildlife health, free ranging and captive, across 55 countries.

EAZWV expresses profound concern, sympathy and support towards our colleagues, their families and the animals and institutions they are responsible for in Ukraine. 

We urge that the ongoing war cease immediately and hope that the humanitarian crisis can be resolved quickly, allowing everyone to return to peace. Specifically, we wish that those caring for zoo and wild animals can again work in safety.

Meanwhile, we wholeheartedly express our respect for Ukrainian wildlife and zoo professionals’ brave efforts and hard work and urge our members to offer their help via donations.

Direct assistance to Ukrainian zoos is being made possible through the initiative of our strategic partner, the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), who has created a fund available via this link. Your support of this fund makes our joint coordinated efforts more effective.

We also support the work of our colleagues at the federation of Veterinarians of Europe (FVE), Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Association (FECAVA) and the World Veterinary Association (WVA) for creating the “Vets for Ukraine” hub to coordinate aid by European Veterinarians to help Ukrainian veterinarians, their families and animals. https://vetsforukraine.com

Moreover, the EAZWV Board is attentive to individual requests for help and will continuously explore ways and means to provide technical assistance and other professional support.

10th March 2022