Health
Puerto Rico to close its only zoo over poor conditions for animals
The 45-acre Juan A. Rivero Zoo, located in the municipality of Mayaguez, is the only zoo that exists on the island
March 1, 2023 5:46am
Updated: March 1, 2023 5:48am
Puerto Rico is permanently closing its only zoo after years of suspected negligence, animal deaths, and a lack of resources, the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DNER) confirmed on Monday.
The 45-acre Juan A. Rivero Zoo, located in the municipality of Mayaguez, is the only zoo that exists on the island.
"The welfare of the animals comes first," Gov. Pedro Pierluisi told reporters. "There has been finger-pointing for a long time."
The measure was taken after the zoo spent “five years without receiving visitors following the devastation caused by Hurricane María," said DNER secretary Anais Rodriguez.
The zoo was temporarily closed down in 2017 after hurricanes Maria and Irma destroyed part of its structures when they hit the island. However, several animals remained on site and were looked for by DNER staff.
However, several animal deaths were reported at the facility, and several animal rights activists protested and requested that the government close the zoo.
After several allegations of animal mistreatment came to light, federal authorities launched an investigation into the zoo. Experts from the Wild Animal Sanctuary in Colorado visited the zoo last Sunday to evaluate the conditions of the animals and the installations.
“The zoo has been degraded,” said sanctuary executive director Pat Craig. “You can imagine the facilities were overgrown and dilapidated to some degree.”
Craig added that his group would transfer about 50% of the animals in the zoo to Colorado at no cost to the Puerto Rican government. However, Puerto Rico will have to find homes for the rest of the animals since many can't survive in Colorado's weather.
"The 300 animals that inhabit the zoo will be evaluated by specialists and veterinarians; those that receive the go-ahead to be transferred to sanctuaries will be sent to those places. Meanwhile, for Those that are not, the DNER is developing a plan to guarantee their welfare," the department said in the press release.
