Bioparque Amaru Zoo: Clinic and Condors
Bioparque Amaru Zoo is a wildlife rescue and sanctuary for animals who have been victims of illegal wildlife trafficking, habitat destruction, or abuse at the hands of humans as pets or circus attractions. Between November 2017 to the present, they have taken in 457 animals for treatment and placement. This in addition to the over 915 individuals currently living on the 1000+ acres of the zoo property in the hills of Cuenca, Ecuador in the Southern Andes.
The intake of wild animals is never-ending.
My name is Dr.Nikki Becich, and I am a veterinarian currently working in a private practice in Cheat Lake, West Virginia. I'm from Pittsburgh, PA originally, and worked with the National Aviary in the past, which is how I got involved with Bioparque Amaru. I have worked with Amaru's organization for over 5 years now, and their growth has been exponential. We have watched their team quadruple in size, their exhibits double, and helped crowd-fund the cost to build them a vet clinic in 2013, which was completed in 2014. The Arbelaez family who own and direct the zoo's activities, are dear friends and colleagues. With this fundraiser, I will personally deposit the funds into my USA-based checking account, and make purchases of hospital equipment (detailed extensively below in the google documents from Victoria Arbelaez) with whatever funds we raise.
I am asking for help in donations to help Amaru purchase refurbished and new hospital equipment for their Zoo and Wildlife Veterinary Clinic. These medical tools will cost them anywhere between $12,000 and $39,000, depending if we get them donated in the United States versus buying them from companies in Ecuador, where tech is more expensive.
The basic list so far is as follows-
Sevoflurane Inhalant Anesthesia Machine
Oxygen concentrator
Dry sterilizer
Multi-parameter monitor (shockproof)
Surgical instrumentation equipment Manometer
Portable ultrasound
Microhematocrit Centrifuge
Ganzo neck lamp
Electrocardiograph
Stethoscopes
Autoclave
Infusion pump
Ceiling lights for operating room
Flow meters
Stainless steel cage for Hospitalization
Washing well
Surgery shelves
Stainless steel table
A pricing document with more specific details can be found in my google drive here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FWdS8NZlB7BkCRl98zpMCQ1gg3ERa4IuHo6EZ6W5_dQ/edit?usp=sharing
Since we built the vet clinic in 2014, almost 2,000 animals have benefitted from hospitalization and care. There have been over 15 workshops training future zoo and wildlife vets from over 11 countries (for example, this one: https://www.mightycause.com/story/Amarupanamericanaeducation?fbclid=IwAR3jbxUy3OcoFc0EXFrGHyL-fqockOCg7PC2WHQpyITDEDXSTZ-mv6SLM5s ), and with your help, that scope could widen.
This is a fantastic way to promote the conservation of biodiversity across the globe.
We are starting with the lofty goal of $20,000. We are hoping to raise this in just 33 days: our fundraiser will end on JANUARY 16th, 2019. At the conclusion of this, I will bring some donated equipment to Ecuador, and help them buy the rest of it in-country.
All donors will receive special, personalized thanks on behalf of the Zoo and its animals at the conclusion.
Feel free to scroll through the following videos and links to learn more about Amaru and the team behind the effort!
Bioparqe Amaru was a vision hatched in mid- 2007 during biological surveys of the Andean highland river basins around Cuenca, where there are now many mining projects. These studies were the first to bring together many Ecuadorian and foreign biologists, environmental activists, and other professionals associated with the local and national government.
This group, aware of the need for more public conservation education, centers for wildlife rescue, and biological stations for constant environemtnal monitoring, began the construction of Bioparque Amaru Zoo, whose mission is:
"To promote and facilitate the knowledge, respect, appreciation, research, conservation and dissemination of knowledge of Ecuador's incredible and abundant native flora, fauna, natural and cultural resources. The conservation of tropical biodiversity, especially the native biodiversity of Ecuador, will be the main focus of the Zoo, which will always take into account the protection, rehabilitation and/or reintroduction of wildlife; as well as the ecological processes, evolution, equilibrium, interaction with and dependence upon the natural environment."
I first met the Arbelaez family in 2013, working for the National Aviary (Pittsburgh, PA). Ernesto, the director, his wife Amanda (a biologist and botanist, and Vicky, administrative director, were working around the clock to improve the quality of life for the animals they cared for and gave sanctuary. They are some of the most dedicated, optimistic, and inspirational people I have ever met.
Working with them was one of the many reasons I decided to go to vet school, with the hope to practice conservation medicine both locally and globally.
Please consider donating to their cause for future populations of animals!
For more information, see the official webpage for the zoo:
http://www.zoobioparqueamaru.com/
Or their facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/zoologicocuenca/
Or my blog chronicling visits spanning 2013-2015:
http://onehealth47.blogspot.com/
Sincerest thanks,
Nikki Becich, DVM
Veterinarian at the Avian Conservation Center of Appalachia and Cheat Lake Animal Hospital
Field Associate for the National Aviary