A Colorado sanctuary steps in to help animals after zoo closure in Puerto Rico

[Judi Lynn]

KUNC
Published March 14, 2023 at 3:56 PM MDT



A rhinoceros rests inside an enclosure at the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, July 7, 2017. The government announced on Monday, Feb. 28, 2023 that it is closing the U.S. territory’s only zoo, which has remained closed since hurricanes Irma and Maria battered the island in Sept. 2017, as federal authorities investigate allegations of mistreatment of animals.


The Wild Animal Sanctuary in Keenesburg, Colo. will relocate over 300 animals from the now closed Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The zoo had been under a great deal of criticism regarding the welfare of its animals and had suffered several financial blows before Hurricane Maria finally forced the zoo to close for good in 2017. That leaves the future for these animals uncertain. With the exception of a few birds, the rest of the animals must be relocated off the island.

Pat Craig, the executive director and founder of The Wild Animal Sanctuary, said the animals range in size from tarantulas to a lone elephant and while his sanctuary isn't a good fit for every critter, they can find a home for them elsewhere. They're coordinating with other sanctuaries to find homes for different species. His sanctuary is for carnivores, and they'll be taking about half of the animals, with some going to Colorado and others to a sister facility in Texas.

"We do a lot of rescues, both here in the country and abroad," said Craig. "We've gone to many other countries to rescue animals in large numbers."

The sanctuary will start taking in new animals in the next few weeks. The Wild Animal Sanctuary has managed a few large projects before. They resettled nearly 150 large cats owned by private zoos featured in Netflix’s “Tiger King.”

https://www.kunc.org/news/2023-03-14/a-colorado-sanctuary-steps-in-to-help-animals-after-zoo-closure-in-puerto-rico





































A bear who's outstanding in his field:



Their welcome center:
https://www.wildanimalsanctuary.org/new-welcome-center

https://www.wildanimalsanctuary.org/

[SheltieLover]

1. So glad they are able to step in and help these poor animals.

True heroes!

TY for sharing!

[2naSalit]

2. That looks like quite the place!

[3catwoman3]

3. What a big job that will be.

Here’s hoping it all goes well.

[Judi Lynn]

4. I found a thread I posted here in 2011, when the Americas started closing circuses!

I'm not sure, but I think South American countries started removing the big fur friends from circuses well before it happened here in the U.S. I started posting articles about the Colorado refuge long ago. Had no idea it was as far back as 2011! Whoa!

Here's just one thread, with links to short articles, discussing saving circus fur friends:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4736211

Oh, yeah, I remember after rereading, Bob Barker, the old TV emcee on "The Price is Right" is one who was involved deeply in contributing and organizing the beginning of the Refuge! I think he attended the opening.

OH, my gosh! I just google Bob Barker and the Animal refuge and "opening" and found this page which shows he has given to and organized rescues of all kinds of beautiful critters. He was way, way into getting relief to suffering, helpless animals which had been mistreated by "humans." Link:

https://tinyurl.com/5n7bfu92