Filenews 25 March 2022
The rejection of dead animals by the Limassol Zoo in the Vati area in the Limassol district is denounced by the Party for Animals in a statement, publishing relevant photos.
The announcement reads as follows:
The Party for Animals of Cyprus with enormous sadness and indignation is in the very unpleasant position to inform the citizens, but especially those who are responsible for the new major scandal of the rejection of dead animals coming from the Limassol Zoo. Unfortunately, the responsibilities lie, many, and this time there is no excuse.
The Party for the Animals of Cyprus has been informed by a citizen that dead animals had been thrown at the Vati area in the Limassol district. The dead animals were in garbage bags of the Limassol Municipality! The spectacle is repulsive and the prevailing feeling of sadness and indignation, because some did not respect either legislation or procedures, but mainly did not respect these innocent animals which were removed from their natural environment, from their home, and were trapped in the Limassol Zoo. Their end is tragic!
Dead kangaroo, dead wallaby, dead owls! Specifically, one of the dead owls (protected species) still had the special ring which is characteristic for the place of detention and origin of the bird. It is unbelievable what is happening and yet true.
For the Party for the Animals of Cyprus there is no excuse and no extenuating circumstances, because what happened cannot be described as ignorance of the law and procedures.
We therefore ask the following requests or questions:
1. In accordance with the national legislation K.D.P. 81/2002 (and Directive 22/1999) on Zoos, and specifically article 10, we challenge the managers of the Limassol Zoo to publish the details regarding record keeping and the various fluctuations of the animal population in this area.
2. How did the Veterinary Services apply (which did not apply) the relevant legislation? Why and how were these animals found in the landfill in Vati? The law is specific to all the actions that should be taken and de facto it seems that none of this has been complied with.
3. How did the Veterinary Services allow (because otherwise it is not explained) to have thrown these animals in an unsuitable place? How is the risk of transmitting zoonoses reduced? What are the public health precautions? Why did they not cremation the animals or why did they not give them to the Sigan company which manages the cremation of dead animals?
4. What does the zoo's veterinarian in charge have to say? How did these animals die and why did they die? How does it explain the fact that the owl which was imported from the outside (ring) has been thrown into Vati? Who does he inform or not, and for how long this practice was done?
The Cyprus Animal Party had previously warned two Ministers in the past about the situation in the licensed Zoos. It seems, however, that the Ministry has not been heard or it is possible that the Ministry and the Minister are not informed about what is happening in the Zoos or perhaps some people are 'playing pellets' or whistling carefreely or simply, the issue of the implementation of the legislation and the relevant procedures is of no interest to anyone.
The innocent animals, gentlemen, were not your fault. It is not enough that you have them trapped in thankless cages against the backdrop of immense grief, you leave them without the intended care, they die, and worst of all you throw them away as if they are disposable objects. Besides, let's not forget that similar incidents have been observed in the past. A typical and tragic example is Julie the elephantine. She died and you threw her, too, to Vati!
We close by saying that we demand from the Minister of Agriculture, the police, and the Mayor of Limassol, to order an immediate investigation of the incident.
This time we will not rest until the culprits are led to where they deserve to be, whoever they are, whether they are called Officers in the Veterinary Services, the Limassol Municipality, or the Managers of the Limassol Zoo.
If and when the investigation reveals the culprits, the least they will have to do will be to resign, because they simply let or approve of this situation to develop as it unfolds. Too bad too pity for the innocent animals.
