Zabuti

Забуті

“These folk are hewers of trees and hunters of beasts; therefore we are their unfriends, and if they will not depart we shall afflict them in all ways that we can.”

- J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion

Забуті Zabuti translates from Ukrainian as Forgotten. The word Forgotten is an homage to nature that is being destroyed by the consequences of war in Ukraine. Especially the animals, who are already suffering from climate change.

(Zabuti) The extinction of the species has been an ongoing issue in the world due to climate change. Ukraine is not an exception.

According to Conservation Frontlines, it has more than 300 endangered species.

With the full-scale invasion, certain animals are even more at risk. The full-scale invasion resulted in severe environmental destruction. It caused mass destruction of animal and plant life and pollution of air and water resources. More than six million animals died since the full-scale invasion, more than 180,000 square metres of soil is polluted with harmful substances, more than 680,000 tons of petroleum products burned during the shelling, which resulted in significant air pollution (#StopEcocideUkraine). Numerous fundraisers were created to help stop environmental crimes and restoration of the Ukrainian ecosystem.

All animals are affected by pollution of the earth and the environment, groundwater poisoning, etc. However, these animals inhabit the most affected areas of Ukraine, some of them are even at the frontline. The war has a terrible impact on nature conservation efforts. Larger shells and rockets could easily destroy an entire colony of some species with a single blast.

Shelling and explosions destroy natural ecosystems, injure, maim, kill and change the typical behaviour of the wild animals that inhabit them. For example, disoriented, hungry and shocked animals can enter towns. Among them, are species from the Red Book of Ukraine. It is an official national red list of the threatened animals, plants and fungi that are protected by the law in Ukraine.

I have chosen eight animals that have been specifically affected by the consequences of the war: Brown bear Steppe eagle Bobak marmot Barn owl Marbled polecat Black stork Eurasian lynx Long-eared hedgehog

Brown bear KINGDOM Animalia PHYLUM Chordata SUBPHYLUM Vertebrata CLASS Mammalia ORDER Carnivora SUBORDER Caniformia FAMILY Ursidae GENUS Ursus SPECIES Ursus arctos

Бурий ведмідь

Steppe eagle KINGDOM Animalia PHYLUM Chordata CLASS Aves ORDER Accipitriformes FAMILY Accipitridae SUBFAMILY Buteoninae GENUS Aquila SPECIES Aquila nipalensis

Орел степовий

Bobak marmot KINGDOM Animalia PHYLUM Chordata SUBPHYLUM Vertebrata CLASS Mammalia ORDER Rodentia FAMILY Sciuridae GENUS Marmota SPECIES Marmota bobak

Бабак

Сова сипуха

KINGDOM Animalia PHYLUM Chordata CLASS Aves ORDER Strigiformes FAMILY Tytonidae GENUS Tyto SPECIES Tyto alba

Barn owl

Marbled polecat KINGDOM Animalia PHYLUM Chordata SUBPHYLUM Vertebrata CLASS Mammalia ORDER Carnivora SUBORDER Caniformia FAMILY Mustelidae GENUS Vormela SPECIES Vormela peregusna

Перегузня

Чорний лелека

KINGDOM Animalia PHYLUM Chordata CLASS Aves ORDER Ciconiiformes FAMILY Ciconiidae GENUS Ciconia SPECIES Ciconia nigra

Black stork

Eurasian lynx KINGDOM Animalia PHYLUM Chordata SUBPHYLUM Vertebrata CLASS Mammalia ORDER Carnivora SUBORDER Feliformia FAMILY Felidae GENUS Lynx SPECIES Lynx lynx

Рись

Long-eared hedgehog KINGDOM Animalia PHYLUM Chordata SUBPHYLUM Vertebrata CLASS Mammalia ORDER Eulipotyphla FAMILY Erinaceidae GENUS Hemiechinus SPECIES Hemiechinus auritus

Їжак вухатий