Why is the elephant Wendy from the Odesa Zoo not being evacuated?
Former director of the Odesa Zoo, Igor Bilyakov, explained why the 47-year-old elephant, Wendy, is not being evacuated. According to him, transporting her is dangerous for her health due to her age and lack of direct human contact. The UAnimals organization offered assistance with the transportation as early as 2022 year, but the zoo administration refused.
The former director of the Odesa Zoo, Igor Bilyakov, stated that transporting the 47-year-old elephant, Wendy, is risky due to her age and health condition. According to him, the animal needs to undergo veterinary examinations and tests before being transported, which may require sedation, which is dangerous for the elephant at her age.
Біляков also noted that Wendy is not a docile animal, so additional calming measures will be needed for transport. At the same time, the UAnimals organization has offered assistance with transporting animals to suitable conditions since 2022 year, but the management of the Odesa Zoo refused this offer.
The former director admitted that the elephant enclosure in the Odesa zoo was outdated, and one of the challenges for Wendy is the loneliness, as she has been living without a representative of her species since the death of the elephant Tarun in 2008 year. To bring another elephant to Odesa, it is necessary to reconstruct and expand the elephant enclosure, but the funds for implementing this project have not been found.
Zoo officials previously assured that veterinarians are constantly monitoring Wendy's health, and experienced caregivers work with her daily. According to the institution, the elephant also has constant access to food and drinking water. However, the administration emphasizes that a change in the familiar environment could cause significant stress for the animal. Wendy's situation has become part of a broader discussion about the conditions of animal care and the future of the Odesa Zoo.