Puerto Rico closes its only zoo after years of complaints

SAN JUAN (AP) — The Puerto Rican government will close the island’s only zoo after years of allegations of neglect, lack of resources and animal deaths that have been reported by activists.

The Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo in the town of Mayagüez on the west coast of the island has been closed since hurricanes Irma and María in September 2017, and many activists have questioned the situation and the future of the zoo. more than 300 animals are confined there.

The permanent closure of the 45-acre (18-hectare) facility was announced Monday by the island’s government, while federal authorities investigate allegations of animal abuse.

“Animal welfare comes first,” Governor Pedro Pierluisi told reporters. “There have been flags for a long time.”

A few weeks ago, U.S. Attorney Stephen Muldrow announced that experts from the Colorado Wildlife Refuge would inspect animals in Puerto Rico and that “the careful and humane care of all zoo animals is a Department of Justice priority.”

Funcionarios del refugio visited el zoológico el domingo, an inspection that Iba carried out in 2017, antes de los huracanes, dijo a The Associated Press el director ejecutivo del refugio, Pat Craig, destacando que incluso en ese entonces había había por el estado de los animals.

“The zoo has definitely fallen into disrepair,” Craig said. “You can imagine the facilities were somewhat abandoned and run down.”

He said the animals are mostly healthy enough to be transported, although he noted one lion has a bump on one paw that vets are still checking.

Craig also said he was worried about the zoo’s only chimpanzee, as monkeys need to socialize.

He declined to give further details, explaining that he is limited in the amount of information he can divulge due to the involvement of the Department of Justice. However, he added that the team found nothing that needed immediate attention.

In February 2018, the United States Department of Agriculture revoked the zoo’s exhibit license for a host of violations in previous years, including a tiger so malnourished it had to be euthanized and a cougar confined in too narrow a space.

Earlier, a government-appointed commission raised concerns over the deaths of two mountain lions, a malnourished chimpanzee and a limping rhino named Felipe. He also noted that dozens of animals needed vaccinations or physical tests, and that a kangaroo and a porcupine were among the animals that had no shelter.

In January, officials announced that a black bear named Nina, who was over 20 years old, died of undisclosed health complications after she stopped eating. The results of an autopsy have not been released. Black bears can live up to 35 years in captivity.

Craig said he estimated his group would transfer up to 50% of the zoo’s animals at no cost to the Puerto Rican government. However, primates or exotic birds would not be taken due to Colorado’s climate.

The Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources said it was cooperating with animal transfer plans and with the ongoing investigation at the zoo, which opened in 1954.

“We have not skimped on the search for alternatives so that … the best possible care and safety of all the species that inhabit it is guaranteed,” said the secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources, Anaís Rodríguez, who added that it was only recently, a few years ago, that the agency took over responsibility for the zoo.

Activists celebrated the zoo’s closure, including Christian Ríos, who is also chairman of the Puerto Rico Bar Association’s animal rights commission. He called for full transparency as authorities prepare to transfer some animals.

“We are not letting our guard down,” Ríos said, adding that those responsible must face the consequences. “We are sorry that all these complaints have taken a long time to be heard,” he said.