The issue of the Zoo returns to the municipal council of the Limassol Municipality, this time with a new, revised proposal for its evolution, which takes into account the positions and decisions formulated after the rejection, on June 18, of the previous proposal for the conversion of the Zoo into the Limassol Biodiversity and Urban Environment Center "Nature", which was submitted by the Cyprus Centre for Environmental Research and Education (CYCPE) of the Limassol Metropolis.
The new proposal is expected to be presented today Thursday before the municipal council. The previous proposal was rejected by the city council with 14 votes against and 10 in favor.
Speaking to "F" about the issue of the Zoo, the mayor of Limassol, Giannis Armeftis, said that the issue returns to the Municipal Council with a revised proposal, which takes into account the decisions taken during the previous session.
As he explained, in this context, an extended meeting was held with the leaders of the municipal groups, during which a new proposal was presented for the way the Zoo operates and evolves.
The main goal, as he mentioned, remains the transformation of the space into an educational center, with an emphasis on biodiversity and the urban environment. However, the new proposal provides for the presence of a limited number of animals, mainly birds, as well as some other species that could be housed without being in captivity.
"This is the basic principle. The spaces will be configured in such a way that the birds are in a wider area and not in cages. Either they will move freely or there will be special protection and fencing nets, so that they are not limited to cages." At the same time, he noted that the final proposal that will be presented by the CYCPE.
A basic condition, as he stressed, is that there is a limited number of animals and that there are no animals in captivity.
"We will not have animals in captivity. That was the basic basis. So, it is a new proposal that includes a limited number of animals, mainly domestic and not wild animals."
In relation to the climate that has been formed, the mayor expressed the assessment that the first picture is positive. "From what I understand, it seems to be positive. From then on, a presentation will be made, so that all the members of the Municipal Council are informed. And it does not mean that the decision will be made tomorrow," he said.
As he added, the agenda of the next meeting includes the presentation of the revised proposal, while then the municipal council will be asked to take a position on the issue.
Mr. Armeftis clarified, however, that for him it is a basic condition to avoid the captivity of animals. "For me personally, the red line is no animals in captivity. So, either they will be free or the conditions will be created precisely to ensure their prosperity," he concluded.
