News
Some soon-to-be really cool bears!
May 29, 2008, 4:1AM MT
By Sharon St. Joan
Eleven bears to get air conditioning!
Eleven bears to get air conditioning!
By Tanya Mahrous, Best Friends Network
On the banks of the Nile River in Cairo, life is getting a little cooler for the 11 bears living at the Giza Zoo.
As the oppressive summer heat approaches, the 8 American Black bears and the 3 Himalayan bears will soon be living in a cooled environment for the first time in the zoo’s history. The improvements are coming none to soon for the many people involved in making these improvements happen. It has been a labor of love for Dina Zulficar, a coordinator for the recently formed Animal Welfare Awareness Research in Egypt (AWAR) group, a coalition of animal welfare groups formed in September 2007. With the hot, desert sun pounding the Cairo metropolis of 16 million, and average summer temperatures hovering around 95 degrees Fahrenheit (36 degrees Celsius), the excessive heat has become a danger to the bears’ health.
The new cooling system has been generously donated by Egitrade, the local air-conditioning division of Daiken Industries of Japan, and will include a new air-conditioning system, chilling water system, and floor cooling for the 5 different enclosures. The new cooling system will greatly enhance the bears environment, giving little Sara, a 1 ½ year old American Black cub a chance to live a more comfortable life than Abu Ashraf has, a 28 year old Himalayan bear.
Going around the world for expert views
The efforts to revitalize the Giza Zoo and improve the animals’ living conditions have led AWAR around the world. In addition to working closely with local zoo and government officials, AWAR has reached out to worldwide animal welfare organizations and animal biologists for their assistance in developing environments that meet the unique needs of the animals. It has been a global, coordinated effort with everyone working together for a common cause – to improve the living conditions of the bears. Their tireless efforts have succeeded in gaining the support and donations needed. There is much to be done, so the focus is on taking it one project at a time.
Since the project has kicked off, there have been numerous discussions with renowned bear biologists, Ben Kilham and Steve Herrero, as well as Sylvia Dolson at the Get Bear Smart Society, to use their expertise in designing an environment that meets the bears' needs. A major focus of the revitalization is ensuring that the improvements are here to stay for future generations. Training the zoo technicians to maintain and use the systems is a key aspect of the project, and critical to ongoing success. Once these improvements have been made, they will also be applied to the Alexandria Zoo– helping even more bears live a more comfortable and safe life at the zoo.
Getting the zoo back in shape
The Giza Zoo opened in 1891 and during its heyday, was known as a regional leader of zoos. Unfortunately, years of disrepair and dwindling funds have left many of the animal environments below international standards. Now home to more than 2,000 mammals, 4,000 birds and almost 800 reptiles, its mission is to again become a cultural and national treasure. Efforts are underway to revitalize the zoo and return it to the standards that meet the requirements of the international zoo accreditation associations. With an entrance fee of just 1 Egyptian Pound (about $0.18), the support of local and worldwide authorities will be a key component.
With all the great work going on, there is no time for rest. Discussions with Primarily Primates, a U.S. based sanctuary, have begun too with the goal of developing a new environment for the chimpanzees, incorporating ropes and toys to create a more social and stimulating environment.
AWAR has made great strides is starting discussions that will improve the lives of the animals at the Giza Zoo. In a country of more than 70 million, in which many of the people live below the poverty line, gaining support for animal welfare causes can be a challenge. But thanks to the dedicated animal lovers and the cooperation among organizations, they are headed in the right direction!
Special Thanks to:
Sylvia Dolson, Executive Director, Get Bear Smart Society, Canada
Steve Herrero, Bear Biologist, USA
Ben Kilham, Bear Biologist, USA
Dr. Nabil Sidki's, Under Secretary of State of Egyptian Zoos
Dr. Hatem Kamal, Manager of Egyptian Zoos
Dr. Magdy, Manager of Giza Zoo
Dr. Maha, Veterinarian in charge of Bears
Dr. Tamader Veterinarian
Engineer Ahmed Fattah, Egypt Representative, Daikin Industries of Japan,
Engineer Sherif Sabry, Egypt Consultant & Designer, Daikin Industries, Japan
Gardens and Treasures Society
The Egyptian Association for Environmental and Community Service
Top Photo: © Igor Groshev / Dreamstime.com / Himalayan Bear, also called the Asiatic Black Bear
Second photo: © Randy Hjelsand / Dreamstime.com / American Black Bear
What you can do
These are the websites of two of the member organizations of AWAR:
SPARE
http://www.sparealife.org
ESMA
http://www.esmaegypt.org
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