Cyprus’s Commissioner for the Environment and Animal Welfare, Ilias Myrianthous, has called for more systematic inspections of facilities housing animals after a bear was found outside its enclosure at Melios Zoo in the Agioi Trimithias area on Saturday evening.
Myrianthous said there were court rulings concerning the facility which, according to him, were issued over failures to comply with animal welfare laws and regulations.
“Unfortunately, this development confirms precisely all those concerns and complaints that have been raised from time to time,” he said, adding that, in his view, “the relevant authorities should already have proceeded with implementing the court decisions”.
Melios Zoo owner Menelaos Menelaou, however, said the relevant state authorities had inspected his facilities many times and that he had never received any criticism concerning the construction of the facilities or the safety of the animals or the public.
Veterinary Services Director Christodoulos Pipis said his department had been informed about the incident by police and would coordinate with them to assist on matters falling within its remit.
Pipis said the information available to him about the circumstances of the incident came from police. According to that information, the owner reportedly said the bear escaped while he was trying to feed it.
Myrianthous said zoos must meet a series of requirements laid down in both national and European legislation. He said the relevant laws were strict and should be enforced not only at zoos but more broadly at facilities where animals are kept.
He added that supervisory authorities must intervene when breaches are identified, using the procedures provided for, including fines or court action.
Myrianthous clarified that he does not have executive powers, but can identify shortcomings, make recommendations and help coordinate the relevant authorities, particularly where there is uncertainty over which body is responsible.
Asked how similar incidents could be prevented, he said the relevant authorities should carry out systematic inspections to ensure that required standards are being met.
“Not only would we recommend more intensive inspections. I believe they are required by the framework of directives and legislation,” he said, adding that inspections should be carried out at facilities housing animals, as they are at livestock facilities.
Zoo owner says bear never left perimeter
Menelaou said the bear never left the perimeter of the zoo but was outside its enclosure for about an hour from around 7pm, after visitors had left.
He said he called police himself as a safety precaution so that the relevant authorities would be at the scene in case the animal left the zoo grounds.
According to Menelaou, police arrived immediately and remained in the car park while he dealt with the situation.
He said the enclosure was secure and had not been damaged, and that the bear subsequently returned to it.
“The enclosure is very large and secure. It wasn’t because the enclosure was unsuitable, nor did the enclosure break and the bear escape. And it was at a time when I had no visitors,” he said.
Menelaou added that after the animal returned to its enclosure, police officers approached to confirm that both bears were inside before leaving.
Referring to the safety of the facilities, he said the relevant state authorities had carried out inspections on numerous occasions.
“I have never received the slightest criticism concerning the construction of the facilities, the safety of the animals or the public,” he said.
“Everything is fine, and that can be seen today as well. There are already more than a thousand people here now. Thousands of people have been coming here every week for 26 years without the slightest incident,” Menelaou said.
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