More Than Just War Victims: Those Rarely Spotlighted by the Mass Media

The sound of bullets whistling and bomb explosions shook the ground. Black smoke and thick dust from buildings destroyed by bombs rose in the sky. Residents and animals in the area were frightened and ran for safe shelter. That’s what the hustle and bustle of war in areas of armed conflict such as Gaza and Ukraine has been like in recent times. So many human victims fell as a result of the war.

However, it is not only humans who are victims of war; animals also feel the same impact. Often, those who cannot speak (animals) are
neglected. Domestic animals, livestock, and wildlife alike are victims of conflict, suffering pain, hunger, and fear.

The mass media often only reports on the human-victim side of armed conflict. However, humans are not the only ones who are victims. Pets abandoned or separated from their owners roam the streets, looking for food and shelter. Not infrequently, they become victims of stray bullets, bomb explosions, and even being buried in collapsed buildings. Livestock whose owners were forced to leave them stranded on farms until they got sick. Wild animals, both in zoos and in the wild, lose their habitats, are injured by bullets, bombs, and land mines, and can even become prey for opportunists who are taking advantage of the chaotic regional situation.

1. The story of Maria Vronska from Ukraine, who built a shelter for 700 cats and dogs abandoned in Kyiv due to the Russian-Ukrainian war.

2. The story of Ewa from Poland and Nataliia Popova from Ukraine, who risked their lives to save Ukrainian wildlife from the Russian-Ukrainian war.

3. The story of Saeed All Er from Sulala Animal Rescue, who struggled
with the gripping war in Gaza to save animals such as abandoned
dogs, cats, and donkeys with limited resources.

1. Sulala Animal Rescue
2. International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW)
3. Warpaws
4. Fourpaws International
5. World Animal Protection Internationa

Every action, no matter how small, can make a difference in the lives of animals suffering from war. By collaborating, we can help create a safer and more compassionate world for all living things.