Rescue and Conserve Mission Taiz Zoo Taiz, Yemen

Hello Fellow Lion Hearts,

First, I would like to thank everyone that has donated to this rescue mission. It is the life blood and life line to the Taiz animals and to the people who risk all to care for them. You are literally the key to our progress and success. However, we still need another push to complete our first goal of $5,000 USD for the new natural enclosures for the Taiz lions and Arabian leopards. So we need everyone on board and roaring for Taiz! Together our dream will be realized. We have survived the hard part in being granted government permission. With the war and the changing of governance, it proved difficult because we no longer had our known and proven relationship. It has been a process to gain a relationship with the new governance but well worth the effort. Everyone in the government and zoo is on board and desperately wants to get rid of the current cement cages and see the lions and Arabian leopards happier and in more natural conditions. Yes!, they will finally have grass underfoot, trees, and real sunshine on their backs and not just the sun's rays that peer through from the small spaces between the bars. I know that the archaic conditions have eaten away at each and every one of us but now we have the power to change it together. We have already moved mountains.https://www.alionsheart.org/our-work-in-action-in-taiz-zoo

Now I know our original plan was to send everyone to sanctuaries in South Africa and beyond. Our UK Coordinator and Contact, Katherine Pedinelli, spent countless hours and months securing wonderful sanctuaries for all 298 zoo residents. We, along with Chantal Jonkergouw and SOS Zoo and Bear Rescue, put on the biggest pressure campaign possible with worldwide media. Unfortunately, thanks to the war, CITES, and both of Yemen's warring governments, it was never and not possible in the end. Heartbreaking as it was, we have continued our devotion and efforts for these animals. It was a moral crime to us to abandon the imprisioned animals and let them die were they stood because of human decisions. So, we decided to stay and to fight for these embattled survivors.

Now, I know many did not have any idea of what laid ahead and truthfully, neither did I or how long. As Yemen has suffered from the brutality of war, and after four years, we all have become so attached and our hearts have suffered with them. No day has been easy but we have lasted and have kept almost 300 alive. Which almost none thought was possible. I still have my I am very concerned because this will break you letter from my friend at the IUCN. I understood his concern but I refuse to see animals in desperate need as lost cause. So, I am honored that so many beautiful souls felt the same and have continued on this extraordinary journey with me. We made the impossible, possible together. We are so very close to not only keeping them alive but giving them much more than just an existence but a real life and the respect and compassion they all deserve.  I am attaching enclosure requirements from Big Cat:to give everyone an idea of where we are heading for the lions and Arabian leopards in Taiz. https://bigcatrescue.org/exotic-cat-standards/

We have made many changes but more progress coming for the animals. If you do not follow us on Facebook or subscribe to our newsletter on our website, please do, for more frequent updates. We will be filming and photographing all new zoo progress as soon as we start the enclosures. If you prefer less frequent updates, we will still have our GlobalGiving progress reports, such as this one and you will still see our ongoing and new progress. I have so much faith that we, together, will make our next report title, "Dreams Do Come True for the Taiz Animals". 

Thank you all again for your time, generosity, and hearts for these precious animals. You remain their hope and light.

Amy

Links:

• Visit our website
• A Lion's Heart Facebook Page

Hello to All Our Supporters,

First, I would lke to thank each and everyone that has so generously participated in supporting this project The Taiz Zoo Rescue and Conserve Mission. It has been such a lifeline to animals that only have us standing between them and death. Your generosity and support has allowed us to provide food, water, medications and critical care to them. We manged to repair two outdoor enclosures. This accoplishment allowed a caracal and a small pride of lions to experience grass beneath their feet for the first time in their lives. Every lion and most of the Arabian leopards has known nothing but cement and bars their entire lives. Their only escape was death. It was just ignorance that put them there and their caretakers just did not know any better but we ave changed this with education. Every keeper is now embarassed and heartbroken and are desperate to change the lives of the animals for the better. We continue to support and educate. Because of you, we are able to feed, water, and medicate almost 300 animals in Taiz zoo. Thank you never seems enough. We could do nothing without your generosity and shares.

Which is why this report update is so special. We have been granted permission by the honorable Mr. Ghazi and the government of Taiz and Yemen to build two state of the art species appropiate natural outdoor large enclosures for the lions and Arabian leopards. Too many have never felt the grass beneath their feet, the sun on their backs. It is past time we give this to them. I has been our dream form the beginning and now, with your help, it will be a reality. We need about $3,000 USD more to get started but I know we can do this together.

Once we get started, all progress will be documented. Everyone will have a front seat to finally releasing Taiz's and Arabian leopards from their dungeons. This is permanent change for this zoo. Never agan will they live and die in cold cement with cruel bars. We do plan on leaving one to educate the public. Every visitor will walk in and be told this is your life. You will live your entire life in this space. I will be a permanent reminder to never go back. The best part is this is only the beginning. Our new goal is to make Taiz the template of turning a bad zoo into a jewel of animal welfare and conservation. This is not just talk, it is a reality in progress.

We have already created miracles. You can see the unbelievable progress from our before and after pictures attached. So, let us keep going and get them all out!

I am just so grateful to you all! You truly are lion hearts.

Amy 

Links:

• Visit or website