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Healing Trauma with Animals at the Kyiv Zoo
An animal therapy program in Ukraine helps people address the trauma of war.
© Frans Schouwenburg
Shortly after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February of 2022, zookeepers at the Kyiv Zoo shared audio recordings from the animal enclosures with BirdNote. The Zoo staff maintained care for the animals even as they slept in bomb shelters. Two and a half years later, Zoo Program Manager Olga Baratynska shares new audio of animals at the zoo and a report on their animal therapy program, called “The Good Phasmatidae,” which has treated nearly 200,000 people, including children, displaced people, and members of the military.
BirdNote®
Healing Trauma with Animals at the Kyiv Zoo
Written by Nick Bayard
This is BirdNote.
After nearly three years of Russian attacks in Ukraine, the Kyiv Zoo has developed a thriving animal therapy program that has helped nearly 200,000 people deal with the trauma of war.
[White-rumped Shama call]
The program focuses on children and adults from the most impacted parts of Ukraine, forced migrants, and members of the military — especially those who have lost limbs. They are able to spend guided time with reptiles, insects, and birds, such as this White-rumped Shama:
[White-rumped Shama call]
Valentyna Kardonova, the Head of the Information and Educational Department at the Kyiv Zoo, says that the program works closely with hospitals and aims to reduce anxiety and the symptoms of severe depression. In cases where people find it too overwhelming to visit psychotherapists, simply spending time with animals and hearing sounds of birds like this Black Swan can be a more accessible way to start addressing trauma:
[Black Swan call]
Even in the face of continued Russian missile attacks on the city, and with the zoo staff down by 19 employees who enlisted in the Armed Forces, the keepers of the Kyiv Zoo are working around the clock to keep their services for animals — and people — thriving.
[Kyiv Zoo birds chittering]
For BirdNote, I’m Ariana Remmel.
[Kyiv Zoo birds chittering]
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Senior Producer: Mark Bramhill
Producer: Sam Johnson
Managing Editor: Jazzi Johnson
Content Director: Jonese Franklin
BirdNote’s theme was composed and played by Nancy Rumbel and John Kessler.
© 2025 BirdNote March 2025
Narrator: Ariana Remmel
ID# KyivZoo-02-2025-03-03 KyivZoo-02
Ariana Remmel
Narrator