A couple of Arctic foxes – two-year old male and female – were accepted by the Centre for Wild, Exotic and Domestic Animals Rescue “Feldman Ecopark Good Home” from the mini-shelter “Shevelit usami” (Kyiv).
Mariia Maas, a famous animal rights activist from Kyiv who rescues animals for nearly 10 years, tells that she found an offer for Arctic foxes sale in the Internet last spring.
“The market value of these animals is much higher than the one offered by the seller. I was interested by this fact and called the seller in Dnipro. They told that it was a wholesale price, as they wanted to create a fur farm, purchased silver foxes and Arctic foxes; however, their business was not successful. I was going to buy two Arctic foxes (as I had money only for this amount), but the seller specified that it is necessary to buy sixteen animals – three Arctic foxes and thirteen silver foxes,” Mariia Maas tells. “It was clear that if nothing was done, the animals would be killed. So, I made a post on social networks asking for help. Many people responded, and I am very grateful to them, as we’ve managed to raise enough money. As the result, we were able to bring three Arctic foxes and nine silver foxes to Kyiv. They were settled in our shelter “Shevelit usami” together with the other animals. During the year, we were able to give them out, and these two Arctic foxes are the last ones.”
According to Iryna Podvoiska, the head of the Centre for Wild, Exotic and Domestic Animals Rescue “Feldman Ecopark Good Home,” the Arctic foxes arrived for rehabilitation in good condition: they are healthy, vaccinated and well-groomed.
“The animals appeared to be absolutely tame – they go for a walk on a leash. They are currently adapting in the Good Home. They must not be released into the wild, as they will not be able to survive there. Therefore, the Arctic foxes either will fund new kind and responsible owners, or will stay to live in Feldman Ecopark. But it is definitely better than to become a fur coat, as exactly this fate was prepared for them in the farm. Unfortunately, this inhumane type of business is still very spread in our country. However, more and more people begin to understand that animals are beautiful only when they are alive. They are ready to rescue our four-legged friends from death and join their efforts to do this regardless of any difficulties and obstacles,” Iryna Podvoiska noted.
It should be reminded that last August, the specialists of the All-Ukrainian Service for Wild, Exotic and Domestic Animals Rescue “Feldman Ecopark Good Home” already accepted five silver foxes from Kyiv mini-shelter “Shevelit usami,” which were also purchased in Dnipro, where they were reared for commercial purposes.
It should be also noted that since its opening, the Centre for Wild, Exotic and Domestic Animals Rescue “Feldman Ecopark Good Home” rendered assistance to more than 22,000 animals, including nearly 4,000 representatives of wildlife.
