Kyiv Zoo Animals Brave War-Torn Winter

Kyiv Zoo's beloved gorilla, Toni, and other vulnerable animals are enduring a harsh winter compounded by ongoing conflict. Ukraine's energy infrastructure has been repeatedly targeted, resulting in severe power outages and extreme cold, with temperatures dropping to -22C. To combat this, the zoo has implemented measures reminiscent of wartime survival tactics, installing generators and wood-burning stoves to heat enclosures.

Staff are dedicated to ensuring the animals' well-being, gathering logs from the zoo's grounds for heating. Despite near-constant threats, including explosions that have damaged enclosures and injured some animals, the zoo remains operational. European zoos have provided crucial support with food donations, and the facility has adopted energy-saving innovations like solar panels.