A Central Animal Shelter – the first of its kind in Europe – is to be built in the Chojnowskie forests near Warsaw by 2031. The investment, estimated to be worth €14.2 million, will provide a temporary home for wild, exotic and invasive species, as well as for animals taken away as a result of service interventions.
Central Animal Shelter
The planned centre will cover an area in the Chojnów Forest District, south of Warsaw. It is to take in animals that have so far not been provided with adequate institutional care. According to the project manager, Dr Agnieszka Czujkowska, the idea for the shelter is a dream come true for those involved in helping animals harmed by man. The facility will take in specimens that require an assessment of their health or legal status before they are sent to zoos or registered breeding centres.
Illegal trade in animals in Poland
Poland still has an extensive wildlife trade market, which includes reptiles, monkeys, exotic birds and even coral, among others. Animals enter the country from illegal sources or are propagated in uncontrolled breeding farms, where they are kept in poor conditions and without proper veterinary care. Many of them die while still in transit, others experience prolonged stress and trauma. They are often bought by people unaware of their needs and requirements, leading to further suffering and abandonment of the animals. The problem is difficult to control due to the falsification of documents and the lack of places where such animals can find a safe haven.
Central Animal Shelter as a safe haven
The new shelter is intended to help bring order to this area by providing suitable conditions for animals taken from the illegal trade. The project includes separate areas for reptiles, amphibians, birds, monkeys and raptors. For large or dangerous species, reinforced enclosures and aviary structures with a higher safety standard will be created. The entire complex will be equipped with double fencing, access control systems and environmentally friendly solutions such as solar panels and waste recycling facilities. Isolation rooms for quarantine and convalescence are also planned as part of the construction of the complex.
Education and awareness-raising
In addition to its intervention and care function, the facility is also intended to have an educational role. Its manager wants the shelter to additionally become a place that helps people understand that keeping a wild animal in a cage is not a sign of prestige, but of irresponsibility. Building public awareness is intended to help reduce illegal animal trafficking and the senseless suffering that goes with it, as well as to reduce the demand for exotic species.
Europe’s first wildlife centre
The investment is the result of a law passed in 2024. The latest amendment to the legislation, approved by the government, has made it possible to start preparatory work. With the realisation of the Central Animal Shelter, Poland has the opportunity to become a leader in the systemic care of animals from illegal trade and inappropriate breeding.
Source: tvpworld.com
Also read: Warsaw | Ecology | Animals | Interesting facts | Architecture in Poland | whiteMAD on Instagram
