Terrible situation in Armenian Zoo

[Guest guest]

I would like to share my worries about Armenian Zoo.

 

The zoo, which is government controlled, is run down and the poor

animals are not living well at all. We first went to see the bears

and what I saw was upsetting but not as shocking as what I would see

later. The zoo has three bears who are not in bad shape, but the

ground of the area in which they reside was almost completely covered

by their own excrement. There were few clean places for them to sit

and as a result their fur was a bit soiled. The water that was

provided for them to swim in—which was clean compared to other areas

of the zoo—was littered with plastic bags and popcorn.

 

Speaking of litter, there was trash strewn everywhere, as can be

noticed at virtually every public rest/relaxation area throughout

Armenia. There was not one patch of space that did not have plastic

bottles or bags on it. Naturally the bags and other crap float around

when a gust of wind comes through the place and thus you have animals

living with litter in their areas.

 

Many of the animals were clearly sick and malnourished. The ostriches

totally ignored the large tub of rotten apples and bits of bread

given them to eat. The foxes in their pens were thirsty, pacing back

and forth or curled up in a corner. We saw no water laid for them,

although a slab of rotten meat had been thrown into one of the pens

that had been ignored.

 

All the animals stand and sleep on concrete or asphalt, which are in

turn covered in their own feces. There is no grass or anything

organic for that matter for the ostriches or other birds to walk on.

And one area that contained swans had only a small pool of standing

water about 10 feet long and three feet wide for them to swim in,

which was completely filthy with green muck and litter, as were all

the water pools in the zoo. There are even two hippopotamuses who do

not dare venture into their own swimming place, also very small, as

it is unfit for bathing. Both were baking in the sun, and I don't

understand how they survive with no fresh water.

 

Several trees have been cut throughout the zoo, so now there is

virtually no shade for many of the animals that need it. Some of the

slopes that line the zoo boundaries have been completely voided of

their greenery, so now there is only sand and rocks. Many of the

animals are clearly not being cared for at all. The llamas have

dirty, matted coats that need to be tended to, and the one seemingly

confused elephant, who for some reason has a chain winding around its

front right foot, is covered in dust and dirt.

 

It is unfair to these defenseless animals that they be subjected to

such disasterous conditions. These animals in public display are

meant to be respected and admired—instead they are scorned and

humiliated.

 

Attached are some pictures of our Zoo.

 

Being an organization " Animals' Rights in Armenian Highlands " we

would like to have your suggestions concerning animals welfare, zoo

standards etc etc.

 

Thank you in advance for your interest and time to this article.

[Guest guest]

Kara,

I have responded to your message privately! Please let me know if you

did not receive it!

 

Thanks,

Kim Petersen

Okinawa