Animal

Tigers, bears and baboons left to starve in zoo two months after it closes


Activists fear wild animals could escape or die as they are still trapped in an abandoned Spanish zoo two months after it closed.

A tiger, four baboons, bears, deer, and other animals have been left behind at The Parque Zoologico Prudencio Navarro in Huelva, Andalusia.

The zoo, in the town of Ayamonte, reportedly closed following a number of animal deaths and a series of complaints from protesters.

Activists fear the animals have been left for dead (Picture: Pen News/CACMA)
Pictures have emerged of the animals looking miserable in dirty conditions (Picture: Pen News/CACMA)

After it was shut down, town authorities – who run the zoo – were accused of ignoring offers to re-home the animals, leaving their fate a mystery.

New images circulating on social media have confirmed activists’ worst fears, showing the miserable wild animals stuck in dirty cages surrounded by stagnant water.

El Proyecto Gran Simio (The Great Ape Project) slammed zoo bosses for negligence and warned the lack of security could cause the animals to lash out and escape or catch diseases.

Spokesman Pedro Terrados said: ‘The zoo is in a state of chaotic abandonment, with depressed animals unattended by veterinarians.

‘There is stagnant water in their enclosures, with great danger of infection if they consume it. It could also become a nest of mosquitoes, transmitting diseases.

‘Most of the animals are doing very badly psychologically.’

Pedro added that he didn’t know who, or if anyone, was feeding and watering the animals and is concerned they will die.

Activists are putting pressure on officials to re-home the animals (Picture: Pen News/CACMA)

He said: ‘Who would feed them? How? And what diet? How many vitamins to each species? What control do they have? None. We do not know anything.

‘On the other hand there is a tremendous lack of security. Until it came out in the media, they had not closed the way to people, because they left the doors open.’

Council chiefs are now being urged to send the poor animals to special animal sanctuaries.

Pedro added: ‘We are fighting in Spain for the state to create a rescue centre to accommodate the animals that are abandoned by zoos or circuses that stop using them.

‘It is not ethical or educational to visit animals that have lost all their essence as a species, where they are bored and withered, and lifeless cards existing only for the amusement of humans.

‘The cages of the zoos are being emptied by death of the animals. They must be closed forever and not used to exploit animals economically.’





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