Karen Dallakyan, president of the "Save Me" foundation, is one of the leading veterinarians in Russia, with thousands of rescued animals to his credit, many of which required complex surgical interventions. As part of the volunteer program "Mission GOOD," he arrived in Bishkek to assist the wards of the rehabilitation center "Zoo Bishkek," where he performed a series of surgeries and shared his experience with local specialists.
One of the most complex surgeries lasted over an hour and a half and was performed on-site, as transporting the bird could lead to fatal consequences due to stress.
“When the surgery drags on, the anxiety increases, so we extended the action of anesthetics and muscle relaxants,” the veterinarian reported.
The condition of the animals at the center was a pleasant surprise for him.
“I was pleasantly surprised to see that the animals were in good condition. In my wildlife shelter, I often encounter the consequences of cruelty: traps, circus practices, when 'non-working' animals are abandoned. Here, however, I saw proper care, nutrition, and cleanliness. This is the key to health that I noticed in Bishkek,” Dallakyan noted.
He also emphasized that the success of the operation was made possible by teamwork. In Bishkek, he met his classmate, who now teaches veterinary surgery.
“After 35 years, I saw my classmate, and together with local specialists, we performed the surgery practically in field conditions. Every minute counted, as the fixation of the bird under anesthesia occurred in an unnatural position, which put a great strain on the heart and respiratory organs. But we managed, the bird is saved,” he shared.
Just three hours after the surgery, the bird began to recover.
“It started to drink and make sounds; these eagles have a very interesting 'barking.' These were joyful moments that we experienced together with the center's staff. When I came out of the operating room, everyone was waiting for news, just like relatives wait for news about their loved ones. Good deeds always end well. We can overcome any difficulties when we work together,” the veterinarian added.
“All our wards come in with injuries. People bring in animals; sometimes they live at home and then are given away. Most of those that can be rehabilitated are released back into the wild. This is our main task,” he explained.
Currently, the center houses about 300 animals and birds of more than 35 species, but returning many of them to the wild is already impossible.
“We have many birds of prey with damaged wings, as well as foxes and wolves with gunshot wounds. Unfortunately, some will never be able to return to the wild,” Shevchenko added.
He also reported on two recently admitted birds.
“We received a call on New Year’s and were told that they found a steppe eagle that presumably flew into a car. It has multiple fractures, a damaged wing, and a shattered leg. The second bird was brought in with a similar wing injury. The steppe eagle has already been operated on; now we face a fight for their lives. A long recovery process lies ahead,” the director explained.
According to him, the arrival of the Russian veterinarian was a significant support for the center.
“The whole situation developed very quickly. We contacted Rossotrudnichestvo, and they supported us. Then the Russian association 'Dobro.rf' got involved, bringing with them a specialist with extensive experience. Not many veterinarians take on such complex surgeries, especially when it comes to birds,” Shevchenko said.
The center has signed a memorandum of cooperation and plans to establish a regular exchange of experience.
Deputy Head of the Rossotrudnichestvo Representative Office in Kyrgyzstan Anastasia Brailovskaya emphasized the importance of professional interaction.
“We are interested in this exchange of experience, which includes assistance to rare animals and recommendations for their feeding and rehabilitation. Our main goal is not to leave the animal in captivity but to treat, resocialize, and return it to the wild,” she said.
“The first day shows that the surgeries were successful: the birds are alive, eating, and drinking. But there are still many days and weeks of observation and rehabilitation ahead,” Brailovskaya added.
Rossotrudnichestvo noted that the "Mission GOOD" program will continue in the future.
The video caption is available on our Telegram channel. Video by - Elizaveta Bliznyuk
