LETTERS FROM CHILDREN WHO CARE
WE NEED TO CARE FOR THE ANIMALS STILL LEFT AT THE ZOO



March 2008

These are the letters we received from the children in Buhusi when we asked them to describe how they see the Zoo and what they wish for the Zoo.

Letter from Caseriu Alexandru My name is Caseriu Alexandru, I live in Buhusi, Bacau and I am a student at the Ion Borcea high-school in that same town. The project that you initiated is very well intended and full of compassion. You want the animals at Buhusi Zoo to lead a better life that they really missed lately. I have been familiar with the sad case of these animals since I first started school and became a member of the Zoology club along with my colleagues. I am 18 now but cannot forget the look on the animals' faces when they saw us. The kindness in their eyes fascinated me... they were begging for freedom and love. Although they are supposed to be wild animals, fierce and unbeatable. They do not deserve their fate. The zoo was the only attraction of this impoverished town. It had beautiful animals that soon were too many and problems started to show up due to lack of funds. Too little food, small enclosures and almost no care for the animals - hey did not deserve this. These animals are noble creatures, more noble than the people. An animal does not betray you, does not lie to you, be it a wild animal. I am very sorry i will not see them again, but I hope it will be for the better. If you can help them, if you can offer them a better life please do not hesitate to put a stop on this. Look into their eyes for a moment and you will know what you have to do. One does not need to be a PhD to see they suffer. Animals in Romania are not paid too much attention. I cannot understand how one cannot love an animal, a true and devoted creature. Please offer these animals your help and cure their suffering. Take them to a better place where they can happily live the last years of their already sad lives. I know the American people loves animals and protects them and I beg you in the name of all animals here to help them. Think of me as of a messenger of their suffering. Thank you so much and i know you will understand the pain i see in them. All the best, Caseriu Alexandru-Gabriel

Letter from Rusu Livia Elena Dear Santa, People say that animals are the man’s most faithful friends ever. They need our love and affection as much as we need theirs but, as you know, this is not enough. No one can live on love only. Food and a proper home are also vital. I remember a happy morning, when the sun kept smiling at me all day long…I woke up, had something to eat and then I went to the Zoo with two friends of mine … to see how our lions, horses and the other nice friends we had made there were doing. Every time we went there they seemed so happy to see us… but that day… everything was so special…it seemed like they wanted to thank us for all the love we showed them…and their eyes were gleaming with gratitude. It was then that I truly realized the importance of animals in a person’s life. And now, here I am, writing you this letter, as I would like you to help me make people aware of our natural bonds with animals, appreciate their presence in our lives and recognize that they are God’s gift to us. There was a time when our local Zoo was home to lots of wild animals and they were the pride and joy of our little town. All the children enthusiastically went to see and feed them as often as they could…those were the happiest days…but like all miracles, this one too was short lived. …The social and economic situation of the area started going from bad to worse, the unemployment rate is on the increase and now we find ourselves at a loss: how to keep feeding the animals of the Zoo, the heroes of our childhood, especially since we can hardly make ends meet. It’s such a tragedy… and we wish a divine sign would emerge from out there to help them. Thanks to The lion’s roar project and to the “BORN FREE” foundation two of the lions were transported to Africa, where they have found a new home… we are extremely grateful but, at the same time, worried for the other two lions, skin and bone, which cannot leave the Zoo before summer time. Will there be enough meat or at least bones for them to live on till then? The Zoo meant a lot for each one of us… and I think it’s just our responsibility to do something about it, like asking you, dear Santa, to give us a hand… please just think of those poor souls who, by no fault of their own, are such a pitiful sight. And, dear Santa, I have another worry: starving stray dogs wandering about the town and being in danger of… But that’s another wish that I’ll have to put on the back burner… for the moment.

Letter from Agaleanu Alina My name is Agaleanu Alina and I live in Buhusi on 1 Mai street, the street where, forgotten and deserted is the Buhusi Zoo. The gates are closed now and the animals live from on the mercy of the few who still remember the beauty of the Zoo. All is in vain now. Buhusi is a small town and there are no funds for the wellbeing of these animals. Although i live very close to the Zoo i avoid to go past it. I cannot see the sad faces or hear the roars of those animals that i used to visit daily. Their home is somewhere else, where they can actually walk in enclosures. I ask you to help offer them a better life, they deserve a happier life. We, people, cannot take this right from them, we cannot take what is rightfully theirs in a natural habitat. If we cannot save the zoo, at least we can move the animals to reservations. Many of us would like to see this Zoo back to life and open to the public. Thank you.

Letter from Romascu Alexandru My name is Romascu Alexandru, i live in Buhusi, Bacau and i study at Ion Borcea high-school. Your initiative of helping the animals had a great impact on me. As I child I was visiting these wonderful animals, my father would often take me there during the weekend because I was very fond of the lions. I would watch them suffer from lack of food and small living spaces. My heart breaks when i think of the ordeal these innocent animals went through. Once of the only attractions in Moldova, the Zoo was subject to the cruel indifference of the local authorities. I know the goals of this project are very high and I please beg you to hurry in helping them, The animals need your urgent help. Offer them a better place and proper food and the love they need and miss so much. They cannot talk but let me talk for them and for the many citizens of Buhusi who care about these animals but who cannot contact you directly. Please help them and I thank you for the time you took to read my letter.