140 Years Old Buenos Aires Zoo Plans to Shut Down

(Source: Internet)

Buenos Aires announced the plan to close its zoo after 140 years, stating the fact that they consider captivation of wild animals to be degrading. The zoo used to be one of the major tourist attractions of Buenos Aires.

Mayor of Buenos Aires, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta informed that over 2500 animals will be moved to nature reserves of Argentina. He also informed that the 44 acres of the Zoo in Palermo, will be turned to an ecopark in 2017.

Rodríguez commented, “This situation of captivity is degrading for the animals, it’s not the way to take care of them.”

In the new ecopark, kids will be able to learn how to take care of different animals. Animals rescued from illegal trafficking will be rehabilitated in the ecopark.

Some of the birds of the zoo will be released to Reserva Ecológica and the older animals will remain at the zoo premises.

The zoo was attracting a bad publicity recently, as a polar bear ‘Winner’ died three and a half years ago due to oppressively hot temperature during summers.

Animal rights activists were fighting for a long time for the closure of the zoo. 50 animals will stay behind in the zoo but the animals will not be exhibited to the public anymore.