Search
Close this search box.
AAP
Donate
Search
Close this search box.

Rescue and
temporary shelter

Temporary shelter at AAP

It starts with rescuing and taking in an animal. We take in exotic mammals from all over Europe, working closely with authorities, governments, animal welfare organizations and the owners of the animals.

Some animals come to AAP after they have been confiscated. For example because the animal has been neglected, because it is forbidden to have the animal or because the owner does not have the proper papers. Sometimes the owners themselves apply for a place at AAP. For example if they notice that their exotic pet needs a lot of care, breaks things or can bite hard. Also circus owners sometimes give up their animals voluntarily.

There is always a lot involved in rescuing and taking in an animal. All the paperwork has to be in order, suitable transportation has to be arranged and for larger animals a veterinarian has to be present to anesthetize them. If all this is in order, it is time for departure to AAP and step 2 can begin: rehabilitation and resocialization.

Lion Reza had to stay for years in a cage car along a busy road. At AAP there was room for him.
Chimpanzee Mojo was locked up in a dark garage for a long time and given all kinds of unhealthy food. Mojo was able to recover at AAP.
Govani was in a very bad state when we found him, terribly neglected. He had numerous injuries and due to stress had bitten off a part of his own tail.
Previous slide
Next slide

Questions & answers - Rescue and shelter

You can register an animal for shelter at AAP. You can read more about it on this page.

You can report animal suffering directly at AAP, read more about that on this page.

We are informed of this through close cooperation with authorities, other animal welfare organizations, rescue centers and private notifications and requests for rescue. Based on all applications we continuously make assessments, with violation of animal welfare being of course the most important consideration in taking in an animal.
If we don’t have any shelter capacity ourselves, we also consult with partners to find the best solution for the individual animal. In this we work together with relocation partners of AAP and other European shelters. Unfortunately throughout Europe there is not enough shelter capacity for these animals, so that shows that better laws and regulations are needed to prevent this animal suffering. AAP has been campaigning for this for years.
Top 5: France, Netherlands, Spain, Germany, Belgium.
It depends on the species of animal and the facilities available at each location. In the Netherlands, for example, we have no facilities for big cats. Similarly, we don’t have rescue facilities for small mammals in Spain or quarantine for chimpanzees. We also look at the possibilities at both locations in terms of group formation; which animals have more chances of being successfully resocialized where.