Evacuated Siberian Husky Zaira Welcomed With Idli Breakfast On Her First Day In Kerala

After nearly a week of uncertainties Zaira, a Siberian Husky that was evaluated along with her owner Arya Aldrin from war-torn Ukraine is getting used to her new surroundings in India.

The seven-month-old reached her new home in Kerala's Munnar, on Saturday, two days after reaching India after an eventful journey.

At Arya's home in Munnar, on Saturday, Zaira was given local food, and it was idli for breakfast, Mathrubhumi reported.

Zira at her new home in Munnar

Siberian Huskies require extremely cold conditions to survive and there were fears of how Zaira will cope up in her new home, especially given the fact that summer is peaking in Kerala.

However, Arya and her family are confident that in the foothills of Munnar, which is the coldest region in Kerala, Zaira can get acclimatised to her new surroundings.

Veterinary experts also say that though Siberian Huskies require cold conditions they can adapt to hotter weathers, especially if introduced at a young age.

IPRD Kerala

Arya told local media that she was hopeful that the war will be over soon and she could return to Ukraine and continue her studies.

The 20-year-old MBBS student of National Pirogov Memorial Medical University, Vinnytsia was one of the many Indians who had refused to leave the war-hit Ukraine without their pets.

According to Arya, Zaira was gifted to her by a senior in college when she was just two months old and it was impossible for her to leave the puppy behind.

Like many students, 20-year-old Arya also had to walk to Romania from war-ravaged Ukraine.

IPRD Kerala

Arya had to walk some 17 kilometers to Bucharest, Romania, with Zaira who is still very young and is not used to walking such long distances.

Even in Romania, Arya faced uncertainties as she was not allowed to take Zaira along on the evacuation flight.

However, since many of the Indian students were carrying their pets, the authorities relented and provided a one-time exemption.

Arya and Zaira landed in Delhi on Wednesday night and there were more troubles.

Two airlines had refused to fly Zaira as they don't allow pets on board.

IPRD Kerala

This meant that Arya and Zaira got stuck in Delhi for another day and Friday with the help of the Kerala government they took an Air India flight to Kochi.

Earlier, taking into account the particular circumstances around the evacuation of Indian nationals from Ukraine, the government had relaxed the norms to allow people to bring their pets along.

"Considering unique and extraordinary situations on war-hit Ukraine wherein pre-expert requisite formalities for export of pets into India may not be fulfilled, the import of pet dogs and/or pet cats along with stranded Indians being rescued by the Government of India is being facilitated as a one-time relaxation measure as under," the statement by the ministry read.

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