Post by Activist4Animals on Sept 4, 2005 8:53:49 GMT
Belgrade Zoo is located on Belgrade Fortress/ Kalemegdan Park
The fortress and park overlook the old town and the mouth of the Sava River. The fortress is the largest and most significant monument in Belgrade, with well-preserved walls, moats and towers. Situated at the entrance to the fortress is Kalemegdan Park, with views of the Danube from its terraces. Belgrade Zoo is in the north-west corner of the park.
This Zoo is located in the Belgrade city center, on city property, but the Zoo is private.
Belgrade Zoo was made in year 1936. and it’s the one of the oldest Zoos in Europe, its located on 6 hectares of rocky fortress. This Zoo has approximately 2.000 animals with about 200 species. (more than 7 bears, 2-3 tigers, 2-3 lions, 2 jaguars… elephants, many monkeys, more than 10 wolfs…reptiles…lots of birds… lots of big animals in very small cages…) Animals in this Zoo look so distressed, they do not have enough space, they also show signs of ‘stereotypic behavior’, abnormal behavior that has resulted from years of deprivation (Pacing, Head-bobbing, Neck-twisting, Bar-biting / sucking, Tongue-playing, Coprophagia, Over-grooming, Self-mutilation or abuse – tail biting, leg chewing, head bashing, Circling etc…)
Letters
[glow=red,2,300]MARCH 2005/ Animal People[/glow]
Belgrade zoo
I am a concerned citizen asking for guidance on how to help the animals who reside at the Belgrade city zoo. Built in 1936, on six hectares of rocky fortress, this privately operated zoo is among the oldest in Europe. It is located in the Belgrade city center, on city property. It has approximately 2.000 animals of about 200 species. Many big animals are in very small cages. Many animals look distressed. They often show signs of “stereotypic behavior,” such as pacing, head-bobbing, neck-twisting, bar-biting and sucking, coprophagia, over-grooming, and self-mutilation. Many animals have been born who are not in the zoo, including tigers, bears, and a hippo. What has become of them?
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Editor’s note:
Photographs accompanied this letter, illustrating conditions already documented by more than a dozen years’ worth of information on file here from other sources. The Tower of London menagerie was built to a similar plan circa 1235, recycling ancient fortifications on a much smaller scale, and was closed as inhumane in 1825, under pressure from the London Humane Society (which became the Royal SPCA in 1840], soon after the opening of the London Zoo.
To meet current “best practice” standards, the Belgrade city zoo might need to be completely rebuilt, but substantial improvements could be made just by placing some animals elsewhere, to focus on the species whose needs can be most readily accommodated within the facilities that now exist.
From Merritt Clifton’s email
(regarding Belgrade Zoo story)
I would point out that the message
of a campaign about the zoo could either be,
"Don't visit the zoo because it is cruel to
Animals," or
"Come see what we need to fix at
the Zoo, and help us do it. The Animals are
counting on your help."
What others say about Belgrade Zoo :
(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 zookeeping.
Probably, acceptable zookeeping can be done at such a site,
but would require some rethinking.
For example, the primates who could best be kept there would
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 Japan to the point of being exterminated as
common pests. 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.
No other primates are appropriate for the habitat, and those
of other species should be sent elsewhere.
Bears should be kept on natural soil, in large enclosures
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.
I am not at all anti-zoo, but I am strongly anti-bad zoo,
and the Belgrade Zoo is a bad zoo, made worse by the evident
management neglect of opportunities to improve.
--
Merritt Clifton
Editor, ANIMAL PEOPLE
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(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 –
I did not feel happy seeing them pace back and forth, frustrated from the lack of natural activity both emotional and physical. Thankfully times have changed and the majority of zoo's work very hard to give their animals the most natural as possible surroundings, company of the same species and most of all providing activities for them to keep their minds and bodies active. Good zoo's breed in order to bring back a species that is fast becoming extinct. When I go to ' a good ' zoo now, I can tell immediately if an animal is happy and contented. I see vast enclosures where the animals can move around, play and socialize with their own kind! I meet staffs who care about their every need, emotionally/physically and medically when required! And as much as I dislike to see animals in captivity - I look at friend Gorilla as he sits and calmly chews on a bit of food - How Lucky You Are ... NO ONE WILL HURT YOU - NO HUNTER WILL KILL YOU AND SELL YOUR HANDS FOR ASHTRAYS, OR MOUNT YOUR HEAD ONLY TO HANG IN SOME RICH MAN'S HOUSE !
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, Cornwall's Voice for Animals UK
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(This text is taken from correspondence with Dana Lynn Cruzan)
I don't think wolves are good in a zoo. Unless the other alternative is death.
Wolves need to have privacy.
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.
There are wolves at the Living Zoo in Rancho Mirage, CA. I checked it out last month and was thrilled. They have a HUGE wooded, rocky, pond enclosure. The only show themselves to the people when they want to. The people see to the side and above the wolves. This is one I have approved of.
Wolves are such social animals that having no contact and having to see people would be hard for them. We have a few wolves in our sick pens which are small, only because we grew to fast and they would have been killed. But we are always working on getting them out of it.
Our wolves have relationships with people, long ones and each wolf knows each person and has a special relationship with them.
Danna Lynn Cruzan aka Angelwolf, Wolf Mountain Sanctuary
[glow=red,2,300]Zoo Tour:[/glow]
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