02/21/2020 - 20:53
- Clarín.com
- Society
The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of the Nation c lauded the cages of lions, tigers, elephants and macaws of the Luján Zoo because it discovered that visitors to the park could enter these enclosures to pet and feed the animals, something prohibited by provincial law
The Specialized Body of Environmental Control and Control (CEFCA) was the one who carried out the procedure motivated by "some 600 situations that account for transgressions to the preventive closure carried out in the middle of last year," said an Environment statement.
"Specifically, visitors were allowed access inside the cages, feeding and touching animals, which is prohibited by the provincial law regulating the activity of this establishment," said the Ministry.
The operation was carried out jointly with authorities of the Municipality of Luján and staff of the Ombudsman and the Ecological Police, both of the province of Buenos Aires.
During the operation, those responsible for the inspection replaced seals in poor condition, restored those removed from the cages of the big cats, which had been placed in a procedure in July 2019, and added closing strips.
Sergio Federovisky, Secretary of Environmental Control and Monitoring, said during the inspection that the management of which he is a part "has zero tolerance with the violation of Law 12238, of the province of Buenos Aires, which establishes the prohibition of contact of visitors with wildlife animals in zoos. "
The zoo was also requested to urgently cease advertising that encourages contact with animals and was asked to make some reforms that ensure good wildlife management and prevent visitors from entering the enclosures.
In the July 2019 survey, it had already been detected that people from the public were entering the cages with tigers and lions, touching and feeding them.
This occurred within the enclosures, some of which had the signposts indicative of prohibition of entry, established by article 8 of Decree 2308/01, of regulation of Provincial Law No. 12238.
In addition, at that time, inconsistencies had been registered in relation to the number of animals between the findings in the establishment and the affidavits submitted to the then Secretary of Environment. That operation was carried out together with the National Service of Agrifood Health and Quality (Senasa).
"There is evidence, evidence of tourists who upload photos and videos with dates after that closure that show that contact between visitors and animals remained as it was before," Federovisky explained.
"The actions are part of the effort of the portfolio led by Juan Cabandié, along with other institutions, for the transformation of the Luján Zoo," the statement said.
Source: Télam