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Deep Dive: Checkpoint Zoo (2024)

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Checkpoint Zoo
Checkpoint Zoo is a 2024 documentary directed by Joshua Zeman that follows Ukrainian zookeepers and volunteers during a 71-day rescue mission to evacuate animals from Feldman Ecopark in Kharkiv. The park was under threat from Russian artillery during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The film captures the efforts of these individuals as they risk their lives to save thousands of animals trapped in the conflict zone. The documentary was inspired by a viral video of ChiChi the chimpanzee wandering Freedom Square in Kharkiv. Zeman and his team gathered footage from zookeepers and news reports, supplementing it with on-location filming to provide a comprehensive view of the rescue efforts. The film premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 6, 2024, and was made available globally for one day on October 4, 2025, in honor of World Animal Day.

Why Watch

  • •Follow zookeepers saving animals in wartime Ukraine.
  • •See the emotional impact of war on animals and humans.
  • •Meet the brave volunteers risking their lives for wildlife.

Did You Know

•The rescue mission lasted 71 days during the 2022 Russian invasion.
•Checkpoint Zoo premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 6, 2024.
•The film was inspired by a viral video of a chimpanzee named ChiChi.

Perfect For

Animal rescue enthusiastsUkrainian history buffsDocumentary film fans