In the early days of the Russia-Ukraine war, the country’s second largest city, Kharkiv, was turned into a warzone. On one side of the battlefield was the invading Russian army; on the other side, the defending Ukrainians; and caught in between them was Feldman Ecopark.
More than just a zoo, Feldman Ecopark was an animal sanctuary that offered countless therapy programs to everyone from soldiers with PTSD to children with special needs. As the war ravaged on, and the shelling increased, it was clear that the bravery of the staff wouldn’t be enough to save the animals trapped inside. With the help of four young volunteers, these zookeepers would undertake a seemingly impossible mission: to evacuate over 5,000 animals, including scores of dangerous predators, and deliver them to safety.
Drawing from first-hand footage, award-winning filmmaker Joshua Zeman’s Checkpoint Zoo showcases a story of human compassion, bravery, and sacrifice during Ukraine’s darkest hours, shining a light on the best of humanity when it is all too easy to focus on the worst.
