Kyiv Zoo renovates aviary for rescued war parrots

Kyiv Zoo has refreshed its summer aviary for rescued parrots with a denser mix of perches, natural ropes, wooden ladders, climbing structures, toys and chew items, giving the birds more to do than sit and wait out the day. The flock, a large and noisy mix of parrots saved during the war, continued its rehabilitation in the outdoor space along the central alley near the fountain, where visitors could see the birds without turning the enclosure into display alone.

The redesign fit a wartime role Kyiv Zoo has leaned into repeatedly: the zoo said it became a center for rescue and rehabilitation of wild animals from across Ukraine after the invasion began, and that more than 500 animals had already received help, including almost 100 different birds. In that setting, the aviary was not just a prettier setting. It was a working part of recovery, built around movement, choice and the daily routines parrots need to regain confidence.

That approach matched the zoo’s own descriptions of bird care over the last two years. Kyiv Zoo has said treatment and rehabilitation for injured birds is long-term and must restore not only physical condition but also psychological state and socialization with birds of the same species. In 2024, the zoo said rescued budgerigars moved to a summer enclosure with nests, branches, ropes and feeders, and it described two aviaries for ara parrots as each about 30 square meters and nearly 5 meters high, sized to mimic nature more closely than a standard cage.

Kyiv Zoo has also used sand, swings, feeders, rope courses and decorative water features in parrot enclosures, a pattern that points to enrichment as a core therapy tool rather than an add-on. The same logic appeared in the case of Jaco parrots brought in by Kyiv police officers in spring 2022: the zoo said they spent about two years in treatment and adaptation before moving into socialization, and later returned to their summer aviary near flamingo lake.

The upgrade was also shaped by outside help. Loro Parque said it donated 5,000 metres of specialised galvanised mesh for a new outdoor aviary, support that helped Kyiv Zoo keep building and improving space for rescued birds while war continued to disrupt daily life. In Kyiv, the aviary now serves as a reminder that for parrots recovering from war, a rope to climb, a ladder to test and a chew toy to destroy can be part of the treatment plan.