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Belgrade Zoo is one of the worst zoos in the world and has been condemned for many years by every international zoo inspection body ...
Maneka Gandhi
Respected Member of Indian Parliament, honorable animal welfare activist and former Union Minister for Environment and Forests
The International Primate Protection League worked for years on the case of the "Bangkok Six" orangutans starting in 1990 when the six babies and two siamangs were smuggled from
Shirley McGreal, www.IPPL.org
-Although many zoos profess to have conservation on their agenda, it is usually a perfunctory gesture and one which is included to appease their customers. How many zoos reintroduce animals into a more natural environment, following any conservation project? How much money do zoos actually invest in conservation? In any case, imprisoning some animals, to benefit others, is never an acceptable trade-off.
Most animals, like those in Belgrade Zoo, are used purely in the name of entertainment and do not benefit the animal in any way. The conditions in Belgrade Zoo are simply atrocious. The cages and enclosures fall way short of an acceptable standard (if there is such a standard!). The environments are so removed from these animals' natural environments, which will obviously cause repetitive psychotic behaviour: simply driving them mad! Cages and enclosures are incredibly small and offer no stimulation. Seeing large predatory carnivores, like Polar bears, whose home range would cover many kilometres, confined to a barren prison, is unforgivable. Intelligent primates, like Chimpanzees and Orang Utans incarcerated without space to climb and socially interact with others of their species, is heart-breaking. None of the animals in Belgrade Zoo should be there. They should all be re-homed into more suitable sanctuaries, or, where possible, be reintroduced into the wild.
Always for the Animals
Garry Sheen>>>>
(This text is taken from correspondence with Merritt Clifton)
I do not understand the evident lack of attention to the
Belgrade Zoo by the international zoo community.
If I happened to be the head honcho at a respectable zoo, trying to do well by the
animals, I would look at the Belgrade Zoo and others like it as bad
examples whose deficiencies expose all zoos to activist criticism,
and would jump on the situation with both feet, prominently and openly.
I would want to have clearly on record that I do not consider this to be acceptable zoo keeping.
Probably, acceptable zoo keeping can be done at such a site, but would require some rethinking.
be Japanese macaques, who are adapted to cold temperatures (if they
have access to a real or artificial hot spring), and are in overabundance
in parts of
A large outdoor enclosure with vines growing over the rocks of the old castle
and an artificial hot spring could be built at the Belgrade Zoo,
and could be a world-class exhibit.
of other species should be sent elsewhere.
with lots of trees. Maybe the Belgrade Zoo could do that. If not,
it should not have bears. Keeping bears in stark iron cages, of any
size, is just plain inhumane and wrong, and even a five-year-old
should be able to see so.
and the Belgrade Zoo is a bad zoo, made worse by the evident
management neglect of opportunities to improve.
Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE
(This text is taken from correspondence with Mary Alice Pollard)
I grew up as many of us did, in an age where all zoo's were deemed acceptable –
I am glad that I was different than most children - I remember animals and I felt their pain – I did not feel happy seeing them in cages far too small - I did not feel happy seeing these magnificent wild animals deprived of ALL THAT IS NATURAL to them –
We must work towards a world that is as natural as possible for our captive animals, if they must be captive!
What do I see in the faces of the animals in Belgrade Zoo ?
I see eyes that cry - I see animals bored, with no proper space - I see animals deprived of a proper social activity with their own kind ... I see a zoo that only cares about the money they make - instead of the needs of the animals.
How sad that is - if they cared more for the animals there - then I am sure the popularity and support would double!
This is a zoo who's representatives and staff are obviously not willing to spend the money required to update the facility for the animals there - I believe so strongly that it should be CLOSED DOWN immediately, and the animals moved to a more appropriate, safe and caring facility!
Mary Alice Pollard
Founder,
http://justnicephotos.homestead.com/CVFA.html
(Following text is taken from correspondence with Dana Lynn Cruzan)
They do not like to be stared at.
They love people when they trust you and have to see them thru a cage would not be condusive to them.
Danna Lynn Cruzan aka Angelwolf, Wolf Mountain Sanctuary
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