The director of the Veterinary Services, Christodoulos Pipis, made new serious complaints about the operation of the Melios Zoo, revealing that the owner had fenced off state plots and proceeded with arbitrary constructions, despite the instructions of the Urban Planning Department. At the same time, the question arises again who has the responsibility to enforce the legislation and what will ultimately happen to this area, which continues to operate, despite the pending issues that have existed for almost a decade.
Speaking on state radio on the occasion of the incident with the escape of a bear from the facilities, Mr. Pipis referred to the history of the licensing of Melios Zoo, but also to the problems that arose along the way with the owner, Mr. Menelaou. As he explained, initially a temporary planning permit had been granted, while in September 2012 the Veterinary Services issued a license to operate a zoo. Subsequently, however, the owner proceeded with extensions and other developments, without securing the required approvals. According to Mr. Pipis, "he had even intervened in state plots, had fenced them off and had made developments", which had not been approved either by the Urban Planning Department or by the competent local authorities.
The director of the Veterinary Services stated that the Department of Urban Planning had informed the owner as early as 2016 about the rejection of his requests, while he had been given specific instructions for changes to the facilities. In fact, according to what he said, there was a decision to demolish constructions that had been made arbitrarily. "He refused to comply," he noted, explaining that he had been given the opportunity to proceed with the changes and reapply, which he did not do. Under these circumstances, the Veterinary Services had warned that the zoo's license, which expired in September 2017, could not be renewed.
Mr. Pipis was also particularly revealing about the way in which animals were imported into Cyprus. Asked if the Veterinary Services had given permission for the import of wild animals, including bears and tigers, he replied in the negative. As he explained, the owner maintained, in addition to the zoo, a separate premises, which in the original architectural plans was presented as a place for the sale of small birds, such as parrots. According to him, Mr. Menelaou claimed that he had a licensed store selling animals, which, as he mentioned, was not the case, since there was no required planning permit for this activity.
"He played it two-door," said Mr. Pipis, describing the way in which, according to him, the transport of animals from European Union countries was carried out. As he explained, when he served him, the owner presented the zoo's license and claimed that the animals were destined for there, while in other cases he invoked the separate premises. "In addition to the fact that it did not have approval from the service, we found out about it when the animals came," he said, noting that the transports were carried out by European Union member states. He added that issues had also arisen with the movement of animals that fall under the provisions of the international convention for the protection of endangered species.
The question, however, is what is happening today with the space and who will undertake to enforce the decisions of the competent authorities. Mr. Pipis confirmed that Melios Zoo is still operating, stating that the owner now presents it as a farm. "Now he says it's a farm," he said, explaining that it previously operated as a zoo and then cited the operation of an animal store. According to the director of the Veterinary Services, there is no license for such a development.
In relation to which service now has the responsibility to act, Mr. Pipis referred to the Provincial Self-Government Organization. As he mentioned, the owner has appealed to the Supreme Court in relation to a case initiated by the District Officer of Nicosia, while the relevant competence has now passed to the EOA, which, according to him, must ensure the implementation of the court decision. He did not clarify, however, when there will be specific actions or what will eventually happen with the continuation of the operation of the space.
