Fighting for Animal Rights in Armenia

Yours truly loves animals and so you can imagine my surprise and delight when I ran across a mention of an Armenian organization that aims to, in their words, "Protect animals from the cruelty of human society." In a country where animals are treated poorly, it's great to see someone doing something to change things for the better. The story behind it is inspiring, too:

Yervand [Shlepchyan], a thirty-nine year old civil engineer, began to seek out, among his friends and acquaintances, others who cared deeply about animals. He found a lawyer, a PR specialist and designer, a zoologist, and a program developer. With Yervand as the manager of the team, they formed their new organization: "Animals’ Rights in the Armenian Highlands" or ARIAH for short.

Learn more about ARIAH on their home page. Maybe you'll even find a way to help them out in fulfilling their mission!

Source: BestFriends.org.
Thanks to Onnik Krikorian for picture and original source.

In Pictures: Animals of Yerevan Zoo

You've undoubtedly been to Yerevan Zoo if you grew up in Armenia - I certainly have! What's better for a little boy or girl than seeing animals, birds, reptiles, and fish up close and personal? Well, Onnik Krikorian has taken all of these wonderful pictures from a recent visit and it is my pleasure to share them with you.

Click on each picture to enlarge.























Being caged has to be awful, but perhaps it's not as bad as being yanked out of the said cage every time someone offers the keeper a 500 dram bribe.





Of course, Yervan Zoo still has a long way to go towards caring for its animals as larger Zoos, for example those in the United States. Until that time comes, these animals will be relegated to a miserable life behind bars.

Armenia's Only Elephant Needs A Girlfriend

Hrantik is the only elephant in Yerevan's Zoo; his "real" name is Elbrus. Hrantik came to Armenia from Moscow Zoo in 1999 - his parents still live there - in the form of a gift. Being twelve, he has started noticing a need for something very special: a female elephant!

Given Armenia's very poor record with regards to sheltering and caring for the animals at the zoo, previous efforts to find a mate for Hrantik have failed. In fact, in 2005 Indian animal lovers protested vigorously to keep their four-month old female elephant in India with its family, going so far as to petition their President and their Prime Minister! They argued that Armenia's freezing weather, the lack of proper elephant enclosures, and the general underfunding of the zoo would mean the elephant's death if sent there.

However, Armenia has spent $1.5 million to bring the elephant areas up to code. In fact, an international organization dealing with that issue has certified their efforts. And while Hrantik is comfortable now, he needs a female companion!

So, if you know of an elephant who would like to travel to a beautiful country and meet a cute Hrantik, let us know! :)

Source: Elephant.se, DPA, and Yerevan.ru (translated)