02/12/10 Reporting Animal Abuse at the Zoological Garden of Zagreb and Absence of Proper Veterinary Health Care
Ministry of Agriculture, Fishery, and Rural Development
Veterinary Inspection
Grada Vukovara 78
10000 Zagreb
February 11, 2010
Subject: Reporting animal abuse at the Zoological Garden of Zagreb and absence of proper veterinary health care
Dear Sirs,
This letter is a result of numerous reports of citizens, who contacted us because they were alarmed and enraged by facts and photographs showing the state of animals at the Zoological Garden of Zagreb, published by Zeljko Malnar in his article for the 1000th issue of Globus, on February 5, 2010. For this reason we have decided to report on the Zagreb Zoo and demand urgent intervention in accordance with the Animal Protection Act.
Zeljko Malnar particularly mentioned a wolf with an open wound on his back, attacked by a persistent craw, which was documented on a photograph. Director of the Zoo, Davorka Maljkovic, stated for the media that the wound on the wolf’s back was due to mating in January. Even if it were so, according to the Animal Protection Act (Art. 52, par. 1, item 3) the Zoo had the obligation to cure the wolf. Since they failed to do so, they should be held responsible and pay the fine between 30,000 and 50,000 kuna. In addition, the person in charge should be fined with 5-10,000 kuna.
In the past few years, we have received a large number of complaints regarding the state of animals and the lack of care at Zagreb Zoo. However, the Veterinary Inspection has failed to organize unbiased and objective surveillance of the Zoo's activity.
For these reasons, we demand that you should undertake a thorough survey of the situation at the Zoo and the state of health of all animals. We also demand that you should legally prosecute persons who are responsible for the lamentable situation.
We would appreciate if you inform us about the measures that you have undertaken on the basis of this report in writing so that we may forward the information to the concerned public and the media.
Best regards,
Ivana Surjan
Animal Friends
Enclosed:
- Article by Zeljko Malnar published in Globus, February 5, 2010
