The Movement of Ecologists – Citizens’ Cooperation in an announcement on Tuesday, demanded the closure of all zoos operating in Cyprus – both government and private-run.
“Complaints regarding the operation of zoos in Cyprus are constant – almost daily,” the Green party said.
The most recent complaints the party received regarded the living conditions of animals in a facility in Agioi Trimithias, the Greens announcement wrote. It said that all complaints referred to miserable animals, living in improper conditions.
The Greens highlight a European Union directive (Directive 1999/22/EC) relating to the keeping of wild animals in zoos, noting that animals must be accommodated under conditions which aim to satisfy the biological and conservation requirements of the individual species, inter alia, by providing species-specific enrichment of the enclosures; and maintaining a high standard of animal husbandry with a developed program of preventive and curative veterinary care and nutrition.
Anthi Mouzouri, Coordinator of the Movement’s Action Group for Animals, said that “taking into consideration the conditions prevailing in Cyprus and the limited experience and expertise on wild animal management, combined with intense weather conditions, as well as the inability of the veterinary services to ensure the implementation of the EU Directive, the only solution is to shut down the zoos completely.”
“Animals should live free in nature and must not be held captive, for any reason. We once again demand the closure of the zoos and the preservation of the rights of animals,” the Green party said.
