The Commissioner for the Environment and Animal Welfare, Ilias Myrianthos, in light of the incident in which a bear was found outside its enclosure on Saturday night at Melios Zoo, in the Agioi Trimithia area.
In remarks to CNA on Sunday, Mr. Myrianthos noted that there are court rulings regarding this specific facility, which, he said, were issued due to non-compliance with laws and regulations concerning animal welfare.
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“Unfortunately, this entire situation confirms exactly all of these concerns and all of these complaints that have been raised from time to time,” he said, adding that, in his view, “the relevant authorities should have already moved forward with enforcing the court rulings.”
For his part, the owner of Melios Zoo, Menelaos Menelaou, told CNA that the relevant government agencies have conducted inspections of his facilities on numerous occasions and, as he noted, had they ever raised the slightest objection regarding the facilities’ construction, the safety of the animals, or the safety of the public.
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Furthermore, the Director of Veterinary Services, Christodoulos Pipis, told CNA that the Services were notified by the Police about the incident and that they will coordinate with them to assist with matters falling within their jurisdiction.
Mr. Pipis clarified that the information he had regarding the circumstances of the incident came from the police, according to which the owner reportedly stated that his bear had escaped while he was attempting to feed it.
Commissioner Myrianthos, in his statements to CNA, pointed out that the operation of zoos requires compliance with a series of conditions stipulated by both national and European legislation. As he noted, the relevant laws are strict and must be enforced not only at zoos but also, more generally, at facilities where animals are housed.
He added that supervisory authorities are required to intervene when violations are detected, through the prescribed procedures, such as imposing fines or taking legal action. He clarified, however, that he does not have executive powers, but can point out weaknesses, make recommendations, and help coordinate the relevant agencies, particularly when there is ambiguity regarding the division of responsibilities.
When asked about preventing such incidents, Mr. Myrianthos noted that the competent authorities must conduct systematic inspections to ensure compliance with the established standards. “Not only would we recommend more intensive inspections, I believe this is required by the framework of directives and legislation,” he said, adding that inspections must be carried out at animal shelters, just as they are at livestock facilities.
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“I never had the slightest complaint about the construction of the facilities, the safety of the animals, or the safety of the public.”
The owner of Melios Zoo, Menelaos Menelaou, told KYPE in a statement that the bear did not escape the farm’s perimeter fence but was found outside her enclosure around 7:00 p.m., after the visitors had left, for about an hour.
As he explained, he personally called the police for safety reasons, so that the relevant authorities would be on site in case the animal left the farm premises. According to him, the police arrived immediately and remained in the parking lot while he handled the situation.
Mr. Menelaou noted that the cage was secured and had not been damaged, and he reported that the bear had returned to it. “The cage is very large and secure. It wasn’t because the cage was unsuitable, nor did the bear break out of the cage and run away. And it happened at a time when I had no visitors,” he said.
He added that, after the animal returned to the cage, police officers approached to make sure both bears were inside and then left.
Referring to the safety of the facilities, the owner noted that the relevant government agencies have conducted inspections on numerous occasions. “I have never received even the slightest criticism regarding the facility’s construction, the safety of the animals, or the safety of the public,” he added.
“Everything is in order, as has been confirmed again today. There are already over a thousand people on my premises right now. Thousands of people have been coming here every week for 26 years, without a single incident,” he concluded.
READ ALSO: Melios Zoo on the bear that caused a stir in the capital: “It never left the park” | AlphaNews
Source: CNA
