NEW TARGET: ODESSA’ ZOO

When Zoos Become Targets: How Disinformation Campaigns and Political Pressure Endanger Animals and People

Entrance of the Zoo

In recent weeks, the Odesa Zoo has become the center of a loud public scandal. Viral posts, emotional videos, and sensational headlines have been circulating online, claiming animal abuse, emergency situations, and the alleged need for immediate “rescues.” However, a careful review of the facts shows something very different: a classic case of disinformation amplified by political pressure and commissioned media narratives. This article is not about defending institutions blindly. It is about defending truth, professional standards, and human lives.

Monkey from the Zoo

From facts to fakes: One of the most frequently cited “examples” used to fuel public panic is a viral story about an elephant allegedly roaming the streets of Kharkiv. This story is repeatedly used as emotional justification for drastic actions in Odesa. Verified media reports from 2019 clearly show: the animal was not lost or abandoned; it was a circus elephant on tour; the elephant was walking within a fenced circus territory near a kindergarten; the video was filmed in a way that intentionally excluded the fence, creating a false impression of an uncontrolled situation. This was not an emergency, not an escape, and not a rescue case. It was a visual manipulation , later repackaged as “proof” to provoke fear and outrage. This pattern is now being repeated.

From my personal archive

Why “just relocating the elephant” is dangerous rhetoric: Transporting a wild animal is not a social media decision. It is a high-risk veterinary procedure, usually involving sedation that places enormous strain on the animal’s heart and vital systems. A small timing error in administering antidotes can be fatal. Public demands to “immediately remove” animals — without veterinary plans, logistics, or expert oversight — are not acts of compassion. They are reckless calls that can kill animals instead of saving them.

Pressure, not protection: At the same time, zoo staff are facing escalating pressure: aggressive public accusations without verified evidence; media publications that mix unproven allegations with emotional language; political pressure from municipal authorities; personal harassment and intimidation. Following one such wave of pressure, the zoo director was hospitalized with a stroke. I make no claim of direct causation. But I state clearly: systematic public harassment and political pressure are not harmless. They put real human lives at risk. Zoo workers are veterinarians, caretakers, technical staff , not political actors. They are professionals responsible for the daily survival and welfare of animals under extremely difficult conditions. They should not become scapegoats in political or media games.

Photo from Zoo’s social medias

Criminal investigations are not verdicts Yes, a criminal investigation related to alleged financial irregularities has been registered following a complaint by a civic organization. But under the law:

• registration of a case does not equal guilt;
• ongoing investigations cannot be publicly commented on by any party;
• using unfinished criminal proceedings as media weapons is a violation of legal and ethical standards. Financial oversight is the responsibility of prosecutors and courts, not Facebook mobs or commissioned journalists.

A call to the international community

Today, I am publicly calling on:

• international animal welfare organizations;
• professional zoo and veterinary associations;
• human rights and labor protection groups;
• independent journalists and observers. Please pay attention and write your mind. Zoo staff in Odesa are under pressure , not because of proven animal abuse, but because of a coordinated mix of political interests, emotional manipulation, and media distortion. Animals do not benefit from lies. Public safety does not benefit from hysteria. Justice does not benefit from intimidation.

Call to Action:

I therefore call on the international community, animal welfare organizations, professional associations, journalists, and concerned citizens not to remain silent. If you are truly concerned about animal welfare and human dignity, I ask you to address the Odesa City Council directly and demand:

• protection of zoo staff from harassment, * political pressure, and media intimidation;
• an end to public scapegoating of veterinarians, caretakers, and technical workers;
• a shift away from political games and sensationalism;
• real, practical action — including proper funding and renovation of zoo infrastructure instead of public witch-hunts.

Animals do not need scandals. People do not need pressure. The zoo needs repairs, professional support, and stability.

Official appeals can be sent to the Odesa City Council at: city@omr.gov.ua Please ask the city authorities to protect those who work with animals every day and to invest in humane conditions, not media conflicts. This is not about politics. This is about responsibility.