THE education volunteer who recently launched an online campaign to improve the current enclosure for ‘Apostle’, the jaguar at the Zoological Park (zoo) in the city is calling on private entities for assistance. Sarina Kawall, the zoo’s education volunteer in a brief interview with this publication, disclosed that the campaign has been faced with slow responses from the public so she is urging the private entities for their support. Thus far, she has managed to raise US$1,950 from private donations around the world. The rehabilitation will, however, cost approximately US$8,300 to properly repair Apostle’s enclosure.

Administered by the Protected Areas Commission (PAC), the zoo has drastically moved from a focus on entertainment to a focus on conservation, rehabilitation and education.
PAC Officer, Annalise Bayney, who supervises such issues at the zoo, told the Guyana Chronicle that it would be great if the private sector in Guyana can be involved in providing financial donations since it will benefit the development of the zoo and ideally improve Apostle’s life.
Apostle is about seven or eight years old and came to the zoo as an abused animal. She was captured in a mining camp and subjected to extremely brutal treatment before being rescued by other miners. Thereafter, she had been tied up in a bag and beaten and consequently had large open wounds on her skin. Due to the care of the zoo keepers, Apostle has fortunately made a complete recovery.
This campaign, Kawall said, is geared at raising funds to improve Apostle’s life at the zoo by rehabilitating her enclosure, which is in a rough condition since at present she is confined to the concreted portion of her enclosure for security reasons.
Kawall noted that the “green” space behind the animal’s enclosure which is used for exercise and recreation is currently termite-infested and it is not a safe environment for a 250 lb animal to be in, nor would it be safe for zoo patrons to be around.
Additionally, she indicated that although there are plans for a full ‘open’ cat enclosure for the future, this seems unlikely for the time being without the assistance of private entities and the public.
The plans include a complete dismantling of the current structure behind the concrete space and rebuilding with concrete and metal fences to safely contain the feline while allowing Apostle the freedom of exploration and usable ‘green’ space.

By Shivanie Sugrim