ATHENS –  Greece's biggest wildlife rescue center ANIMA said it won't make it through 2021 unless it can find new funding after support for the cause from the Stavros Niarchos Foundation ended.

The group, based in the Greek capital, said it's treated more than 45,000 animals over the past 15 years and still operates seven days a week despite financial difficulties during this COVID-19 year when priority is on saving human lives.

ANIMA founder Maria Ganoti said there's been no respite in the number of calls to help animals in distress and injured during the pandemic when people's attention has turned to their own survival.

“What did stop was the possibility of events or school visits, which provided some revenue,” she said, adding that the refuge depends almost exclusively on sponsorships. She didn't say why the Niarchos Foundation stopped support.

“People help with small donations, but they have financial difficulties,” she said, adding that ANIMA, which employs seven people, needs 12,000 euros ($14,709) monthly to operate, said Kathimerini.