Lifted from Herald de Paris.
We have been working, these past few days, to bring you information on the fate of the numerous zoos and aquariums in Japan, affected by the recent earthquake and the resulting tsunami. With the great assistance of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), below please find a cursory survey by Kazutoshi Takami, D.V.M., Ph.D., Dipl.J.C.Z.W.M., Zoo Veterinarian / Curator, as reported to Shigeyuki Yamamoto, Chair of the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA):
So far we could collect the following information about the earthquake and tsunami damage on the JAZA member institutions.
Most of zoos and aquariums in Japan are holding up well.
Miraculously there are no reports of human damage.
Fukushima aquarium flooded to the second floor. All the staff were evacuated at third floor. Life support system was broken down, and fishes died off. But marine mammals are still alive.
Sendai Marinpia Matsushima aquarium was completely-flooded but miraculously no human damage. We do not have any updated information about them.
Sendai Yagiyama Zoo estimates a shortage of feeding stuff. The power is out in Sendai city. JAZA office is trying to coordinate suitable arrangements. But many roads are cut off and transportation network was destroyed. Express ways are actually only transportation route for relief materiel, but traffic is restricted. Only search and rescue unit, emergency food transporter and Self-Defense Forces can take express way.
The power is also out at Akita Omoriyama zoo, Morioka Zoo, Asamushi aquarium and Hitachi Kamine Zoo.
We are shifting from first step “collecting information” to the next step “assistance to the disaster-affected institution”.
We here at the Herald de Paris are actively working with zoo and aquarium associations around the world towards establishing a resource to collect donations to assist JAZA in the task of fulfilling the needs of the affected zoos and aquariums; to relocate animals temporarily from damaged facilities; and to help rebuild the damaged and destroyed zoos and aquariums of northern Japan.
More information about this effort is forthcoming, tomorrow. In the meanwhile, if you have the means to assist in the development of this animal relief effort, please contact us at this specially-created address:
japanzooanimalrelief [at] gmail.com
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this terrible disaster.
We have been working, these past few days, to bring you information on the fate of the numerous zoos and aquariums in Japan, affected by the recent earthquake and the resulting tsunami. With the great assistance of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), below please find a cursory survey by Kazutoshi Takami, D.V.M., Ph.D., Dipl.J.C.Z.W.M., Zoo Veterinarian / Curator, as reported to Shigeyuki Yamamoto, Chair of the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA):
So far we could collect the following information about the earthquake and tsunami damage on the JAZA member institutions.
Most of zoos and aquariums in Japan are holding up well.
Miraculously there are no reports of human damage.
Fukushima aquarium flooded to the second floor. All the staff were evacuated at third floor. Life support system was broken down, and fishes died off. But marine mammals are still alive.
Sendai Marinpia Matsushima aquarium was completely-flooded but miraculously no human damage. We do not have any updated information about them.
Sendai Yagiyama Zoo estimates a shortage of feeding stuff. The power is out in Sendai city. JAZA office is trying to coordinate suitable arrangements. But many roads are cut off and transportation network was destroyed. Express ways are actually only transportation route for relief materiel, but traffic is restricted. Only search and rescue unit, emergency food transporter and Self-Defense Forces can take express way.
The power is also out at Akita Omoriyama zoo, Morioka Zoo, Asamushi aquarium and Hitachi Kamine Zoo.
We are shifting from first step “collecting information” to the next step “assistance to the disaster-affected institution”.
We here at the Herald de Paris are actively working with zoo and aquarium associations around the world towards establishing a resource to collect donations to assist JAZA in the task of fulfilling the needs of the affected zoos and aquariums; to relocate animals temporarily from damaged facilities; and to help rebuild the damaged and destroyed zoos and aquariums of northern Japan.
More information about this effort is forthcoming, tomorrow. In the meanwhile, if you have the means to assist in the development of this animal relief effort, please contact us at this specially-created address:
japanzooanimalrelief [at] gmail.com
Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected by this terrible disaster.
