The impact on the animal populations is also becoming a little clearer, as we now have information from several of our member societies in the affected regions. (Our Member Societies’ team has been trying to contact them all to find out about their current situation) and luckily most of them and their animals are ok; however several shelters have been damaged and the animals are reportedly facing a lack of food and water.
A center run by our member society, Centro de Rehabilitacion y Rescate de Primates (CRRP) that provides shelter for 165 mistreated/abandoned primates has been damaged too. CRRP staff said that one of the monkeys has died and some of the others are much stressed. The house that provided accommodation for the volunteers at the center has also fallen down. Ironically, while CRRP cope with the challenges they’re already faced with, they are also being asked to take in monkeys from some collapsed local circuses. However, they are forced to say no, as they don’t have enough equipment!
Some other animal shelters run by non-member societies are also reportedly seriously damaged. Many dogs have been left homeless, and there are reports of animals roaming around towns, separated from their owners.
Flights into Chile are very limited, as you can imagine, which is making it really difficult to get in. We now have confirmed tickets, to fly directly to Santiago, but only on Sunday night.
The Disaster Assessment and Response Team here has decided to split the team heading to Chile into two groups so one of them can assess the animal welfare need in the most affected areas and the other one can stay in Santiago to attend meetings with different animal-related agencies and have a clearer picture of the situation for animals.
I am signed up to join the first team, so hopefully by Monday (connectivity and circumstances permitting) I will be able to send through more regular updates on what the situation in Chile is really like.
