COMMENT: By Patricia Radnor Kyriacou
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Last week’s Opinion dealt with the archaic restrictions imposed on The Mall of Cyprus (and on other shopping outlets) with regard to opening hours. The situation has parallels with another outdated way of thinking that still prevails in
The Mall of Cyprus is a first for the island. The proposed Ecozoo for Limassol would be the first of its kind anywhere. Limassol zoo has been operating without a license, in breach of the EU Zoos Directive 22/1999 for the past four years. Former Agriculture Minister Timis Efthymiou acknowledged this. The Ministry agreed that the facilities could never comply with the Directive and must therefore, in accordance with the legislation, be closed down.
This breakthrough, achieved by a lobbying campaign conducted by the NGO Animal Responsibility Cyprus (ARC/Kivotos) was followed by the much publicised airlifting of the two long-suffering brown bears to a Hungarian sanctuary. This humane move was funded by the World Society for the Protection of Animals – a global charity that works with more than 800 member organisations, including ARC, in over 147 countries to raise the standards of animal welfare throughout the world. The bears went with the blessing of the mayor, the Ministry and the government Veterinary Services, and good publicity was generated for Limassol with Sky News covering the event and broadcasting it widely.
ARC also succeeded in securing a home for the leopards, that for years had been pacing in their small cages, in a luxury African sanctuary operated by Born Free Foundation. The move would be underwritten by BFF, and once more would not cost the municipality a penny. However, the leopards still languish in their cages. Why?
Building on the bear move and proposed leopard rescue, WSPA agreed to sponsor research into an Ecozoo project to fill the space vacated by the no longer caged animals. WSPA CEO Peter Davies and Dr Victor Watkins met with former Mayor Kontides and explained how this project – a state-of-the art high-tech educational and entertainment facility (of course with no caged animals) – would put Limassol on the map. The town is sadly lacking in any such attraction. WSPA went ahead, together with a top
All that was needed was approval so that WSPA could proceed to the next stage and also attract investors for this exciting proposal. But it seems that those who like to see caged animals in the 21st century may get their way. Dinosaurs surely belong in museums, and not on committees.
Limassol citizens, according to a recent researched article in Phileleftheros, approve. Many have now signed a petition. Last week’s Opinion said: ‘The retailers themselves should have the right to make that decision on their own; they needn’t have the government make it for them’. Surely the citizens of Limassol also have rights; decisions to import exotic animals to languish in cages should not be made for them behind closed doors. Where are the qualified zoologists and specialists? Who exactly is making such uninformed decisions. And why?
And, worst of all, the old myth has been resurrected in order once again to stall for time. “The municipality would like a modern zooâ€. Former Agriculture Minister Timis Efthymiou acknowledged that there was no chance of the astronomical funding required by a modern zoo being made available – either the millions to build it, or the annual running costs, also in the millions.
Perhaps if President Sarkozy succeeds in helping bring shopping hours in Cyprus to emerge from the dark ages, he might also help the scales to fall from the eyes of those who wish to squander taxpayers’ money on acquiring more sad, psychotic, caged animals and ensuring that the image of Limassol continues to be tarnished.
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* The author is co-founder of Animal Responsibility
