We remind you that on July 13-14, 2023, a landmark event took place. With the support of IFAW, the Ukrainian Bat Rehabilitation Center, the «BEAR SANCTUARY Domazhyr» and the CO «ICF «Save wild», a conference «Rescue and Rehabilitation of Wild Animals in Ukraine» was held with the participation of the community spheres in the rehabilitation of wild animals in Ukraine.
Today, we are publishing the text of the resolution signed by the conference participants.
We hope that this resolution will be one of the essential steps for implementing joint initiatives and raising the professional level. Thanks to the members of the conference for their cooperation! We are always glad to see colleagues at such events and in our White rock Bear shelter.
RESOLUTION OF THE CONFERENCE
«RESCUE AND REHABILITATION OF WILD ANIMALS IN UKRAINE»
Place of drafting the document: BEAR SANCTUARY Domazhyr, vul. Vedmezhyy Kray, 1, selo Zhornyska, Yavoriv rayon, Lviv oblast, Ukraine
The participants accepted the date of the document: 14.07.2023
The participants:
- realizing the urgent catastrophic situation with wild animals in need of help amidst the full-scale invasion of russia and its environmental and social consequences;
- emphasizing the need to develop networking of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centres and initiatives, volunteers and institutions for animal protection;
- having heard the participants’ reports on the general principles of work of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation and exchanged experience in the field of methodology and peculiarities of wildlife rescue and rehabilitation;
- considering a large number of existing problems in Ukraine, both in the legislative field and in the field of practical application of wildlife in captivity care standards, as well as new problems that have arisen or deepened during the full-scale war,
approved the Resolution:
1 There is a need to introduce unified standards and/or licensing of organizations operating wildlife rescue and rehabilitation projects. Even mutual inspections by a team of specialists will have a positive impact.
Also, there is a need to introduce a permit in the form of a license for the responsible keeping of chipped and identified wild animals by legal entities that have duly registered the keeping of wild animals as their official activity. This will outlaw the keeping and breeding of wild animals by private individuals in Ukraine and will significantly contribute to the effective solution to the problem of wildlife trade and uncontrolled breeding.
2 The list of enterprises, institutions and organizations that are important for the national economy in the field of environmental protection during the special period does not currently include zoological parks and regional centres for the rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals, so we call on the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources of Ukraine to amend the Criteria for determining enterprises, institutions and organizations that are important for the national economy in the field of environmental protection during the special period and to introduce it to a list of enterprises, institutions and organizations that are important for the national economy in the field of environmental protection during the special period.
3 State support is critically needed to develop quarantine centres for wild animals removed from inappropriate conditions or rescued from natural disasters or anthropogenic factors.
4 There is an urgent need to organize a state or municipal service for the rescue of wild animals in emergencies in urban environments or to grant appropriate powers (introduce licensing of such services) to existing public initiatives.
5 We consider it relevant to create a platform for cooperation as a basis for future association or union with the following information: a list and map of shelters, their technical capabilities and specialization, plans for joint activities and initiatives, requests, consultations, cooperation in planning and implementing environmental protection and educational projects and grant programs etc.
6 We consider it relevant and important to develop social programs based on individual projects of appropriate technical capabilities for such categories of persons as those in need of rehabilitation, as well as enlightenment, educational and correctional.
7 We urge all those who initiate changes in legislation or participate in the development of legislation in the field of animal welfare to spend time not only on lobbying but also on analyzing the proposed initiatives from the point of view of practitioners and experts in wildlife issues. The cooperation platform of the participants of this conference can be the basis for such analysis and discussion.
8 There is a demand for the development of advocacy in the field of animal protection. Rescue projects are ready to provide expert assistance and facilitate the involvement of colleagues and partners for advocacy and implementation of modern world practices.
9 We urge you to support the registered draft laws submitted for consideration: Draft Law on Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine on Improving Legislation on the Protection of Animals from Cruelty in Entertainment Activities (as of April 21, 2021 No. 5409), Draft Law on Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine on the protection of marine mammals and alien species of sharks (as of April 13, 2021 No. 5366), as well as the Draft Law on the Emerald Network Territories (as of December 4, 2020 No. 4461).
10 We propose to develop a system of training (on treatment, rehabilitation, welfare, development of safety standards, etc.) to improve skills at the horizontal level as part of the exchange of experience between shelters and organizations with relevant competence. The participants are also open to proposals from governmental institutions (scientific institutes, city administrations, etc.) and organizations outside the wildlife management sector in general on possible cooperation.
11 We call on the government and relevant authorities:
11.1 to develop, implement and maintain an up-to-date database on wild animals kept in captivity and semi-free conditions on a «single window» basis;
11.2 to strengthen responsibility for keeping wild animals in inappropriate conditions;
11.3 to strengthen control over the implementation of legislation on the circulation, breeding and keeping of wild animals in captivity and semi-free conditions;
11.4 taking into account public opinion, develop a procedure for issuing permits for the permanent keeping of wild animals in captivity.
