The weekly update from Safe Haven for Donkeys in Gaza: 3 new vets from Gaza City provide free care for working animals whose owners can't afford a vet

 

Dear Erna A few weeks ago, I shared the news that Dr Saif had sadly left Gaza. Today, I’m very pleased to introduce you to Dr Ahmed Thabet and the vet team who are continuing our work to help Gaza’s donkeys. Dr Ahmed is joined by two other vets and a veterinary assistant. Together, they strengthen our veterinary capacity in Gaza, allowing us to build on the vital first aid provided by Dr Saif and his team and, where equipment and supplies are available, provide a wider range of more complex treatments. I know many of you care deeply about the animals caught up in this terrible conflict, so I wanted Dr Ahmed to tell you, in his own words, a little about his team, the challenges they face and the animals they are already helping. Thank you, as always, for caring. Wendy Safe Haven UK Office An update from Dr Ahmed in Gaza My name is Dr Ahmed Thabet and I work out of a vet clinic in Gaza City. Our team includes three vets - myself, Dr Muath Al-Sir and Dr Mohammed Basal - alongside our veterinary assistant, Ahmed Althawabteh. We are Safe Haven’s new team providing vet care for working animals whose owners cannot afford or access treatment in Gaza. Before the war, there were approximately 5,000 donkeys, horses and other equids in Gaza, around two-thirds of them donkeys. Today, we believe around half of these animals have been lost. Dr Ahmed - pictured above - heads up our new team of three vets and a vet assistant, strengthening our work in Gaza. Veterinary medicines and essential supplies are also extremely difficult to obtain, so every day we have to make the best decisions we can with the limited resources available to us. Recently, we treated a jenny (a female donkey) who had been attacked by a dog. With no rabies vaccinations available, we cleaned her wounds as thoroughly as possible, stitched them and are now monitoring her closely.  This female donkey had been attacked by a dog. With veterinary supplies extremely limited, the team is doing everything it can with the resources available. We also treated a severely malnourished donkey with multiple wounds and painful sharp points on his teeth that were making it difficult for him to eat.  Our new team has the veterinary expertise to carry out more complex procedures, including dental treatment. But much of the specialist equipment we would normally use has been lost or damaged during the war and cannot currently be replaced. This male donkey was suffering from multiple wounds and severe malnutrition. Painful sharp points on his teeth were also making it difficult for him to eat. Using the tools available, we were able to carefully file his teeth to provide some relief, as well as clean and treat his wounds. As soon as access allows, we hope to replace essential equipment such as our mechanical dental rasp, enabling us to provide a wider range of treatments for donkeys like him. As Safe Haven’s new team, we will continue doing everything we can to relieve suffering and provide these remarkable animals. Thank you for caring for Gaza’s working animals and I’ll look forward to sending you updates in the coming months.  Just two days after our team provided treatment, this severe back wound was already beginning to heal. The team will continue to monitor the donkey’s recovery. Thank You  Working animals have become even more important to people in Gaza since the war, with donkeys and horses increasingly relied upon for transport and daily livelihoods. This places enormous strain on animals that are already living in extremely difficult conditions. Thank you for supporting us to provide veterinary care to donkeys and other working animals in desperate need. Your support means we can continue to treat injuries, relieve suffering and give these animals the care they deserve. Help our vet teams today Above - Our new Vet Assistant Ahmed stitches the dog bite wound. This is just one example of the wider range of veterinary treatment our new team - headed up by lead vet Dr Ahmed - can now provide in Gaza, thanks to your support. If you'd like to read previous updates of our work, please click here to visit out blog. You can also view today's update online by clicking here. Registered charity number 1083468

Copyright © 2026 Safe Haven for Donkeys, All rights reserved. You were subscribed to the newsletter from Safe Haven for Donkeys Our mailing address is: Safe Haven for Donkeys Unit 23 More House Farm Business Centre Wivelsfield Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH17 7RE United Kingdom Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

The last wild Amur tiger in Kazakhstan was killed in the 1950s. after 70 years tiger Umit equipped with a tracking system reintroduced into an ecosystem which had disappeard

International , Brief , News

After 70 years, the tiger returns to Kazakhstan. 

Tigers once roamed Kazakhstan. Unfortunately, this magnificent animal was regarded as an unwelcome guest and preferably shot. The last wild Amur tiger in Kazakhstan was killed in the 1950s. It was quiet

“Today we witnessed a historic event. For the first time since the tiger disappeared from Kazakhstan more than 70 years ago, a tiger has been released back into its historical range. This is the result of years of collaboration (…)”

In good condition

Umit is equipped with a collar with a tracking system to monitor her movements and behavior. She has been examined by veterinarians and, fortunately, was found to be in good condition
.

The nature reserve was formerly inhabited by the extinct Caspian tiger, also known as the
Turanian tiger. This species was closely related to the Siberian or Amur tiger. Umit is an Amur tiger, a population of the Asian mainland tiger that is native to the Russian Far East and northeastern China. The government chose Amur tigers because research showed that their genetic makeup was virtually identical to that of Caspian tigers
.

Tiger back in Kazakhstan

Umit is one of four Amur tigers transferred from Russia to Kazakhstan, possibly as a form of ' panda diplomacy '. Before she could roam free, like their extinct relatives, Umit was released into fenced areas to get used to the sights, sounds, smells, and weather. Alongside Umit resides a male named Amur and two cubs, six to seven months old, from the Russian Khabarovsk Reserve.

Amur will remain in captivity for the time being, until he is ready to be released. The cubs will grow up semi-wild in the reserve. When they are fully grown, around 18 months of age, they will be released if they pass behavioral tests demonstrating that they are truly ready.

Umit runs towards her new life | Photo: screenshot video euronews/Tube

Siberian tiger

The Siberian tiger, or Amur tiger, is a very rare subspecies of tiger. It is the largest of the big cats. A male can reach a length of 3.35 meters (excluding the tail), while a female is smaller. The coat is orange-brown to orange-yellow with vertical brown to black stripes.

Siberian tiger | Photo: public domain

Formerly, the species occurred on the Korean Peninsula, most of Manchuria, the Amur Basin, and the eastern slope of the Sikhote-Alin Mountains. The animal is now rare in the wild. Illegal hunting for its fur and use in traditional medicine threatens the species. In 2011, there were an estimated only 500 individuals remaining.

Complex situation

Despite this remarkable news, it remains a complex situation. One challenge is the security of the communities surrounding Ile-Balkhash. The reserve is large but not fenced, meaning tigers can return to their original habitat if the population grows. Officials from the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology say:

The safety of the people living near the reserve is our highest priority. We have taken measures to prevent conflicts between people and tigers, including a special team that takes action if an animal approaches a populated area.he safety of the people living near the reserve is our highest priority. We have taken measures to prevent conflicts between people and tigers, including a special team that takes action if an animal approaches a populated area.

Wild tigers are still struggling regardless. Their numbers have dropped from approximately 100,000 at the beginning of the 20th century to about 5,500. In large parts of Asia, numbers are still declining. They are facing new challenges such as diseases and climate change
.

If the project succeeds, Kazakhstan will be the first country in the world to reintroduce the tiger into an ecosystem from which it had previously disappeared .

Sources:

• euronews/TouTube
• GMA News/YouTube
• Good News Network
• The Guardian
• Mongobay
• Wikipedia
• Lees ook op AnimalsToday:

©AnimalsToday.nl Jane Sauer

Victory for animals 51 countries worldwide have banned wild animals in circuses: Hungary bans wild animals in circuses from 2027

 

Hungary decides on wild animal ban in circuses from 2027

Hungary is catching up with those European countries that put an end to animal suffering in the ring long ago

At a press conference in Budapest on Friday, government spokeswoman Éva Magyar announced the comprehensive ban.

The abuse used to make them stand on their hind legs is horrific. Electric shocks, whipping, stabbing with an elephant hook are used. I will spare you further details.  Forever banned next year in Hungary. 

From 1 January 2027, the government prohibits the acquisition, keeping and performance of certain wild animal species in circuses. The ban is not limited to the actual performances in the ring, but covers the acquisition, breeding, keeping, training as well as the exhibition of certain wild animal species and their hybrids. After the set date, these animals may no longer appear in circus shows.

A loophole is being closed

Until now, only a partial ban applied in Hungary. This legal situation meant that animals from countries with stricter regulations could be brought into Hungarian menageries. Hungary thus became a loophole for a practice that other states had already prohibited. The new ban closes this loophole.

The safety argument is not an abstract one. Time and again, big cats and elephants escape, causing injuries and deaths. In its 2016 resolution, the German Federal Council explicitly pointed to this danger: the provision of sufficiently large, escape-proof and species-appropriate enclosures, which would actually be necessary, conflicts with the need 

Added to this is the animal suffering itself. Wild animals in the circus eke out their existence in cramped cages, enclosures and transport wagons. On average, the animals are forced to change their performance location up to 50 times a year. Behavioural disorders such as constantly repeated movement patterns are an expression of the fact that the animals suffer under these conditions and cannot live out their natural behaviours. Veterinary care can hardly be ensured, because specialist vets for wild animals are not available in every location.

According to recognised experts, the training itself always relies on coercion and the principle of imposing one's own will on the weaker party. Elephant hook, stick, whip and electric shocker are among the usual instruments for forcing the animals into obedience.

The European context

With this decision, Hungary follows a clear European trend, which Magyar himself emphasised. More and more member states are restricting or banning outright the use of wild animals in the circus.

A general ban on wild animals in the circus already applies in Austria, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Ireland, Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Bulgaria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Luxembourg. In Greece, Malta and Cyprus there is even a ban on all animal species in circuses. France has decided on a gradual phase-out and will ban wild animals in the circus from 2028. England England had already prohibited the use of wild animals in travelling circuses, as had Scotland and Wales.

Hungary thus joins a growing group of countries treating the travelling circus with wild animals as a model of the past. Outside Europe too the development is unmistakable: numerous South and Central American states have issued bans on all animal species in the circus.

Germany and Switzerland lag behind

While the bans are spreading across Europe, the German-speaking countries are lagging behind. In Germany, repeated attempts at a wild animal ban, even though the Federal Council and the Conference of Agriculture Ministers have repeatedly spoken out in favour of one. According to a representative Forsa survey, 82 per cent of Germans hold the view that wild animals cannot be kept in a species-appropriate manner in the circus.

Switzerland, too, is among the laggards across Europe. Here, circuses are in principle allowed to take any species of animal they wish on tour. The authorities' hands are tied as long as the animal welfare legislation lacks an instrument that prohibits the keeping of unsuitable animal species. The Hungarian decision makes it clear once again how far Switzerland has drifted from the European trend.

Conclusion

The Hungarian decision is another building block in a Europe-wide movement putting an end to animal suffering in the circus ring. From 2027, the acquisition, breeding, keeping, training and performance of wild animals will be comprehensively prohibited, and an existing loophole will be closed. For the animals concerned, this is progress. For Switzerland and Germany, the decision remains an uncomfortable comparison: what is becoming a matter of course in more and more countries continues to be a long time coming here.

Further articles on this topic in our dossier Animal rights.

Liked to Death ( video)

 Exotic pets' are wild animals kept in captivity. The trade in these animals leads to crime, the smuggling of wild animals, widespread animal suffering, and a decline in biodiversity.

From African grey parrots to servals (wild big cats): wild animals are captured, bred, and sold as pets. This is often promoted through popular posts on social media. However, what looks innocent on your phone can contribute to a global illegal trade in wild animals.

Liking or liking wild animals as pets contributes to animal suffering. Stop doing this to prevent them from suffering or even dying.

I have no idea why people would 'like' photos such as these. The baby parrots are for sale

www.ifaw.org  International Fund for Animal Welfare

VIDEOS: Our biggest and most complex emergency mission to date 60 big cats and 2 bears rescued: A turning point for the animals of a former zoo in Argentina

In August 2025, we accepted the invitation by the government of Argentina and the management of the former Zoo Luján, in the province of Buenos Aires, to conduct an initial assessment of the animals living there. This was a first step in delivering on an important Memorandum of Understanding with the government, with the aim of securing legislative reforms that strengthen animal welfare standards for big cats across the country and prevent future welfare emergencies.  

The former zoo was closed down due to animal welfare concerns, and our assessment raised serious concerns over the safety, health and well-being of over 60 big cats and two bears still housed there. Therefore, on 1 September 2025, we agreed to take on full responsibility for the care of the animals, including the husbandry management, veterinary care, and associated running costs. 

By taking this step, we have embarked on one of our largest and most complex emergency missions to date. The situation is heartbreaking — as these animals have spent years without adequate care, space or enrichment. We have ensured that their basic needs are met by feeding them and keeping them safe while we plan for their long-term solutions. A small FOUR PAWS team also arrived on site in September to address their immediate needs and prepare for veterinary assessments — but this was just the beginning.

Over October and November, a large team of experts conducted thorough health checks of the big cats and bears, providing urgent medical care and treatments to the animals in desperate need. We are committed to finding species-appropriate solutions and to ensuring that each animal has a brighter, happier future. Your support will help us give them the second chance they deserve.

 

Historic milestone : The first dolphin sanctuary in Europe where dolphins, from captivity will not be performing in a chlorine pool anymore but swimming in the salty sea

 

The world view toward keeping dolphins in aquaria for entertainment purposes is shifting.

 Sao Paolo Dolphin Refuge is the first dolphin sanctuary in Europe. It is located in an enclosed stretch of sea near Tarante, in southern Italy. The sanctuary was founded by the Italian organization Jonian Dolphin Conservation, especially for dolphins that can no longer stay in a dolphinarium and cannot return to the wild. Often these animals need permanent care. This sanctuary was developed with a team of partners, including World Animal Protection and cetacean experts.

"This final permit is a historic milestone. For the first time in Europe, there will be a marine sanctuary where dolphins from captivity can live in a more natural environment, without interaction with tourists and with their welfare first," says Sanne Kuijpers, campaign manager Wild Animals. "These kinds of projects are an essential part of solving the serious welfare problems in captive cetaceans. No more concrete basins, but the rhythm of the sea. A place where they can be dolphins again, instead of entertainers. It brings us one step closer to a future where the orcas and dolphins that now live in captivity will be the last."

What is a marine dolphin sanctuary?

These are spacious enclosures in a fenced-off piece of sea, where dolphins that now live in captivity can live. The welfare of the dolphins is paramount and the dolphins can show more natural behavior. Not performing in a chlorine pool for a screaming audience, but swimming around and diving in the salty sea, where they belong. No new dolphins are bred for a life in captivity.

The dolphins are provided with a more natural and challenging habitat, while receiving the care and guidance they need after years of living in a confined environment.

The urgency of reception places

The popularity of dolphinariums is declining. Visitor numbers are falling, legislation is changing and parks are closing. In the past five years, several parks in France and Belgium, for example, have closed or are threatened with closure. This is a good development, because wild animals are not supposed to do shows in chlorine baths. But the dolphins that are born in captivity often cannot go back into the wild. The only option is often a move to another park, where breeding and performing and tricks continue. That is why World Animal Protection www.worldanimalprotection.nl has been working on the development of shelters for marine mammals for years.

In addition to the reception in Italy, reception places are being developed in Canada and Greece, among others.