Koki Sanctuary - Zavod KOKI

Koki Sanctuary is a non-profit animal rescue and rehabilitation organisation based in Slovenia.

Koki’s determination to provide the best possible care for the animals in their guardianship is informed by science, the experience of Koki’s national and international partners, and Koki’s own, first-hand experience and sensitivity to the animals’ individuality and species-specific and inter-species group dynamics.

This, combined with Koki’s ongoing commitment to educate the public about who these animals really are, and to promote an ethics based on equality and respect for animals, other humans and the rest of the planet, marks Koki’s uniqueness in the region.

Care and education

Koki Sanctuary is home to 16 pigs, 2 cows, 3 goats, sheep, rabbits, hens, chickens, cats, ducks, turkey…and other so-called farm animals rescued from commercial and ‘hobby’ farms. Our mission is to provide physical care for the rescued animals, restore their overall wellbeing and dignity, and enable them to live the rest of their lives in freedom and peace.

The sanctuary is also responsible for pioneering educational programs on ‘farm’ animals, through which we raise awareness about these animals’ intrinsic needs, phylogenetically normative lifestyles, and psycho-physical health.

4 special stories 4 special animals

STELLA – pig who jumped off the trailer. She teaches us about courage.

MIKA AND MISKO – loviung rescued cows sho teach us about love.

GOAT TEJA – rescued goat who teach us patiente.

HEN MOJCA – rescued broiler who teach us gentlness

Koki Animal Sanctuary is regularly informing the public through social media, public lectures, and interviews in mainstream media about the bio-psycho-social characteristics of farm animals and requirements for their wellbeing.

The sanctuary offers a rare opportunity to observe animals in an environment that, unlike standard commercial farm settings, offers animals more adequate species-specific living conditions and greater opportunities for self-determination, including the freedom to interact with one another and form intersubjective bonds without the threat of such bonds being abruptly terminated for anthropocentric convenience (e.g. slaughter). Given the opportunity to live a life of dignity and moderate freedom, sanctuary animals tend to live longer than their counterparts on commercial farms. As a result, sanctuaries often face the problem of ageing animals developing medical conditions that are a direct result of genetic selection/manipulation aimed at increasing farm productivity and profitability. When such conditions arise on a farm the affected animal is killed. A sanctuary setting, on the other hand, will address any medical condition with the aim of helping the animal survive and restore their health. In this process the shortcomings of veterinary science are revealed, namely, when it comes to farm animals the focus is on prevention not cure. Koki Sanctuary has introduced new paradigms for the veterinary practice concerning farm animals in Slovenia (use of medicine and treatment) and has over the years successfully collaborated with numerous local veterinarians in the promotion of such.

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Publications

We promote awareness throguh different publications and media. We focus that all species of animals are in need of our care and empathy. Individual stories of rescued animals are used also to highlight the problematics of using animals in the fashion and entertainment industries.

Every month we spend beetwen 600 and 800 eur for food and basic costs for all our residents. Every year we have to pay credit 10.000 eur for a land (until 2028). We do not have any other income except donors.