Animal Assisted Therapy for Special Needs Children

Dear Valued Supporters,

We are delighted to share the latest update from the Animal-Assisted Therapy Program at the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo, which serves children and adults with special needs.

This year, we are proud to report participation from:

• 15 groups from Jewish Israeli educational institutions
• 13 groups from Arab educational institutions
• 10 private groups coordinated through the Jerusalem Municipality and the Family Court system

Our dedicated team of six therapists continues to provide their expertise and support to our program. We have embarked on a special initiative with the Jerusalem Municipality's Welfare Department, in collaboration with the Family Court, aimed at supporting children from broken families where parental involvement is diminished. Our goal is to build, learn, and research effective therapeutic interventions for issues related to parental alienation, supported by specialized training sessions led by a university professor who is an expert in this field.

In light of the ongoing conflict, we have reached out to the Ministry of Defense and the Jerusalem office of the State Welfare Department to offer our assistance to families affected by the war. We are now supporting two groups of bereaved grandparents who have become the sole guardians of grandchildren orphaned by the conflict. Additionally, we have added two groups for families where one or both parents have been wounded, providing them with therapy and support for their recovery.

In all our activities, we remain committed to the well-being of the animals in our program. We strive to minimize physical interaction when possible; for example, we engage with the elephants by playing various elephant sounds and observing their reactions.

Your continued partnership enables us to sustain this vital program and provide comfort, learning, and healing to those who need it most.

With heartfelt gratitude,

The Animal-Assisted Therapy Team
Jerusalem Biblical Zoo