Transporting animals to safety is a crucial part of wildlife conservation, especially in times of ᴄᴏɴғʟɪᴄᴛ or ᴡᴀʀ. With the ᴛʜʀᴇᴀᴛ of ᴠɪᴏʟᴇɴᴄᴇ and ᴅᴇsᴛʀᴜᴄᴛɪᴏɴ, wildlife sanctuaries and conservation organizations often must take action to protect their animal populations from ʜᴀʀᴍ. This can involve relocating animals to safer areas, both within and outside of their native habitats.
Rᴜssɪᴀɴ forces’ ongoing ɪɴᴠᴀsɪᴏɴ of Ukraine has shocked the world and affected millions of innocent lives. Many civilians have fled their homes, while others are stuck under heavy ғɪʀᴇ.
While the toll on human life has been ᴛʀᴀɢɪᴄ and immeasurable, it’s also greatly affected Ukraine’s animals, from pets stranded at the border to zoo animals scared by the sounds of ʙᴏᴍʙs overhead.
But thankfully, some kindhearted volunteers have been risking it all to evacuate these animals and transport them to safety.
According to the Associated Press, Malvina had been living in a private zoo in Eastern Ukraine until the invasion began, when she was transported to White Rock Bear Shelter in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.
On March 16, Malvina and several other black bears were transported by the Animal Protection Association of Schleswig-Holstein to Germany.
“Since we still had room for a collared bear in our animal welfare center, it was immediately clear: Malvina is coming to us!” German animal nonprofit Tierschutzbund wrote on Facebook.
As has often been the case during this ᴄʀɪsɪs, transporting an animal across a ᴡᴀʀ-ᴛᴏʀɴ country wasn’t easy, but they got Malvina out safe and sound, and now she is in good hands.
“The transport became difficult, but we safely brought Malvina to Weidenfeld in the end.
Recently, another animal made it to a haven across the border: a 7-year-old black bear named Malvina, who was evacuated from ᴡᴀʀ-ᴛᴏʀɴ Ukraine to a protection center in Germany.
It’s the latest turn of events for Malvina, who, according to Tierschutzbund, “lived for years in a tiny cage in a private zoo” where she lived in “ᴄᴀᴛᴀsᴛʀᴏᴘʜɪᴄ conditions” before being rescued in 2019.
“Malvina has now found a bear-worthy forever home with us and can recover after her long journey of sᴜғғᴇʀɪɴɢ,” they wrote.
Malvina is now settling in well with her new surroundings. White Rock Bear Shelter was happy to see their old friend made it out safe and sound.
We’re so glad Malvina is safe and sound. Thank you to everyone who helped her finally get to safety.
Watch the full video here:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=506639567618300