New plan for Limassol Zoo. No captive wild animals.

The Limassol Zoo is returning to the city council for consideration, but with a revised format. The new proposal calls for transforming the site into an educational center dedicated to biodiversity and the urban environment, while retaining a limited number of animals – primarily birds and domestic species.

A key principle is to eliminate the keeping of wild animals in captivity and traditional cages. The bill will be presented to councilors on Thursday, September 3rd, but – as Mayor Yiannis Armeftis emphasizes – this does not mean a final decision will be made that same day.

The previous project was rejected by the councilors

The future of the zoo has been under discussion for many months. In June, the city council considered a proposal prepared by the Cyprus Centre for Environmental Research and Education, based in the Limassol Metropolitan Area.

It assumed the transformation of the zoo into an open Centre for Biodiversity and the Urban Environment "Fysi", with an emphasis on environmental education, research and the presentation of local ecosystems.

However, on June 18, the project was rejected. 14 councilors voted against and 10 in favor. The zoo remained open, but the mayor had already announced that the topic of its future was not closed.

The new proposal leaves some animals

Following the June vote, discussions were held with representatives of the groups on the city council. Based on these discussions, a modified version was developed.

The main direction remains the same: the area is to serve primarily as a educational center for biodiversity and the urban environment.

However, the approach to animals has changed. The new concept envisages keeping a limited number of them, primarily birds and some pets.

The birds would not be housed in traditional cages. Larger spaces allowing for free movement or designated areas secured with special netting are being considered.

Mayor: slavery is a "red line"

Armeftis emphasizes that its basic condition is to move away from the model of keeping animals in captivity.

According to the presented assumptions, the future facility should not contain wild animals kept in conditions typical of a traditional zoo. If animals remain, the space should be designed to ensure their appropriate conditions and well-being.

The mayor assessed the initial reactions to the new proposal as positive, but emphasized that it must first be presented to all council members. Only then will the city council adopt a formal position.

This is a significant difference from the situation in June. Back then, the discussion focused primarily on completely abandoning the zoological function. The current option appears to be an attempt to find a compromise between transforming the area and maintaining a limited animal presence.

Source: Philenews, Cyprus Mail, KYPE