The Limassol Municipality continues to look for ways to solve the problems that have arisen in the operation of the city centre zoo.
Recently, the Cyprus Centre for Environmental Research and Education (CYCERE) proposed to the local mayor's office that Limassol's main attraction be turned into an animal park. Members of the organisation said there was a need for a more animal-friendly approach to animals than the one currently used in the zoo.
The main idea is that the animals will not live in cages, but in more natural conditions. This will allow the animals to behave more naturally, which will have a positive effect on their psychological and physical state. At the same time, CYCERE suggested that only those species that are well adapted to the climatic conditions of Cyprus should be kept in the new park. For example, small goats, cows, horses, chickens and rabbits.
According to the Centre, the new area should function as an educational centre where visitors can learn about the importance of protecting animals and the environment. In addition, the park could host a variety of events involving local residents and visitors. These could include: feeding animals, walking tours, donkey rides, egg collecting, milking cows, etc.
It should be remembered that the zoo has been criticised in recent years for animal safety issues. In late 2022 and early 2023, activists organised protests calling for the zoo to be closed.
Last May, the mayor of Limassol met with representatives of the Green Party, the Animal Rights Party and various environmental NGOs. The leader of the Animal Rights Party, Kyriakos Kyriakou, said he was ready to transfer the inhabitants of the Limassol zoo to other countries where there are more suitable conditions for them. As it turned out, the last straw that broke the patience of animal rights activists was the death of a fawn at the zoo. The animal had caught its antlers on a fence. The zookeepers were not there at the time. The fawn was discovered a few hours later, but it was too late. The municipality, in cooperation with the Cyprus Centre for Environmental Research and Education (CYCERE), decided to look for ways to solve the problem. However, no concrete measures have yet been taken.
It should be noted that the Limassol Zoo was opened in 1956. At various times it has housed elephants, lions and bears. It was modernised in 2012, when it was decided to abandon the iron cages and replace them with enclosures made of natural stone, wood and glass. All the money came from private investors. In December 2021, the zoo will open an aquarium.