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    A jaguar (Panthera onca) at the Simón Bolívar Zoo in downtown San José. / Photo via Simón Bolívar Zoo.
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Published on Monday, May 13 2024
By
the A.M. Costa Rica staff
Due to the
closure of Costa Rica's two public zoos,
more than 300 wild animals in captivity
and exploitation were taken to the Wildlife Rescue
Center in
Alajuela Province. Fundazoo,
the organization in charge of the
management of the two zoos in the
country, Simón Bolívar Zoo and Santa Ana
Conservation Center could
not keep its agreement with the
government to continue operating. The
Ministry of the Environment (MINAE) took
control of the animals and the land of
both zoos through a process named
"Atardecer" (sunset) that was carried
out over the weekend.
The animal
transport operation required around 100
officers including wildlife management
specialists, biologists, veterinarians
and ministry staffers. The animals were transported in crates to the shelter in Alajuela, where vets conducted medical checks to evaluate their health.
The
Simón Bolívar Zoo in downtown
San José was the oldest in the country
and home to more than 200 wild animals
and a large number of tropical plants. It was
created in 1884 by Swiss naturalist
and botanist Henry Pittier. The
Santa Ana Conservation Center in San
Ana Canton, San José, was an animal
farm with more than 100 wild and farm
animals, created in 1976 by British
citizen Robert Ross Lang. He donated
part of his property to the State for
the conservation of natural and
cultural heritage. The
zoo's lease was not extended,
allowing the government to recover
both zoo properties and eventually
build "urban green areas that function
as lungs and recreation for the
population," according to officials. Hunting
wild animals or keeping them captive
is illegal in Costa Rica. People found
guilty of keeping wild species in
captivity may face a fine ranging from
$600 to $26,000 or potentially a one
to three-year jail sentence under
Wildlife Conservation Law No.7317. Authorities
stated that anyone can lodge anonymous
complaints about wild animals that
have been hunted or kept in captivity
by calling the confidential bilingual
10-digit tip line at 800-8000-645.
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