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COVID-19 Emergency Appeal

Frequency
Amount
could help keep the bear enclosures furnished with soft bedding
could help us provide life-saving medicine to the orangutans in our care
could help provide ongoing enrichment to keep the bears active
Amount
could buy the bears delicious healthy meals
could help purchase vital personal protection equipment
could go towards staffing costs as they are stretched to their limits

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COVID-19 is wreaking havoc across the globe. Our top priority at this time is to keep all of our staff and the animals in our care safe. However, the effect of this crisis on the sanctuaries is becoming more and more severe each day. We are in urgent need of funds to keep our centres operational. In Indonesia there is genuine concern that the orangutans, slow lorises and macaques in our care could be susceptible to catching this deadly disease. Our already strict biosecurity measures have been ramped up to maximum, however we are struggling to get hold of the correct protective and medical equipment. Disinfectants, masks and gloves are now extremely scarce, and when they can be found they are significantly more expensive.

Each of our projects around the world is suffering. In India, the sudden lock-down led to panic buying leaving our team with serious concerns over food supply. In Costa Rica our project relies on educational visits by tourists for a large portion of its income, with the centre now closed to the public, this income stream has completely dried up. The bear sanctuary in Armenia is usually heavily staffed by international volunteers and is now facing a personnel shortage after having to send them all home. Paid staff are being redeployed to carry out volunteer duties, which is putting a strain on resources and forcing our team to work long and difficult hours.

URGENT APPEAL FROM OUR PROJECTS

We urgently need funds for:

  • Personal protective equipment - vital at this time but now extremely scarce and expensive.
  • Staff - all international volunteers have been sent home creating a personnel shortage.
  • Food - panic buying around the world has led to worrying food shortages.
  • Lost income - community events and educational visits are cancelled for the forseeable future. Both provide considerable income and have left us with a shortfall we need to make up.

We understand at difficult times like these, it’s natural for us all to focus on our own lives and families and we hope everyone is safe and well. But, as well as looking after ourselves and looking after each other, our focus is on all the suffering animals that need help as much as ever.

Please give what you can in this time of crisis so we can continue our life-saving work!