News of the week

The world's eyes turn toward Eastern Europe

In 40 point type, headlines of all the world’s newspapers shout the latest developments in Ukraine by the hour. And while we are all concerned for the citizens of Ukraine—everyone, all their families and children—there are other things that Putin is destroying and may destroy with his war, things that may be irretrievable once all the bombs fall and the soldiers stop shooting their guns.

About a month ago, I wrote about the potential for a war between Russia and Ukraine to jeopardize the Polesia, wetlands that are shared by Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, and Russia. I’ve googled around since, trying to find out what I can about what is going on in that region. I haven’t found any mention of the wetlands or forests being affected by soldiers or tanks.

The Frankfurt Zoo announced that it was suspending conservation operations in the Polesia, because their regional office is in Lviv, one of the cities attacked by the Russians. The Russian aggression also has the Frankfurt Zoo suspending work that they were doing in the Carpathian Mountains, which are home to some of Europe’s few old growth forests.

Zoo animals from Ukraine are also being evacuated to Poland. The animals are from Save Wild Fund, an animal sanctuary outside of Kiev. Polish zoo officials had lost hope of receiving the animals, when they heard the news that the convoy moving the animals had been surrounded by Russian tanks. But later news indicated that the Ukrainians had been able to pass the Russian military and head toward Poland.