A new twist or the beginning of the end?
On February 23, the Lorient commercial court placed in receivership the Bretagne Zoo company, which has managed the old Pont-Scorff zoo since its takeover by the animalist coalition Rewild.
In December 2019, these seven associations (Sea Shepherd, Center Athenas, Hisa, Le Biome, One Voice, Wildlife Angels, Darwin) had succeeded in collecting nearly 700,000 euros in donations in order to transform the place into a rehabilitation center for animals. resulting from trafficking and reintroduce them into their natural environment.
“We knew at the time of the redemption that there were debts, but they were spread over several years.
Following management difficulties and the lack of payment, they became immediately payable, ”explains Lamya Essemlali, one of the chairmen of Rewild and Sea Sheperd France.
Sea Shepherd positions itself as buyer
The NGO, which had mobilized many patrons, requested an audit and suspended its financial support.
A decision which caused the quarrel between the partners and the resignation, a fortnight ago, of one of the co-presidents Lorane Mouzon Moyne of the Center Athenas.
The result of the audit is unequivocal: the company is “irreparably compromised”.
A judicial representative will visit the site at the end of the week.
During the observation period, Sea Sheperd agrees to fund the care and food of the animals.
The NGO is also positioning itself as a buyer.
"We know that we will be in competition with other traditional zoos, the court will decide," remarks Lamyal Essamlali of Sea Sheperd, who remains hopeful.
The project already relied heavily on Sea Sheperd, but we had no decision-making power over stewardship.
Once relieved of the moribund SARL, it will be quite viable and still in tune with the times.
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