Over 100 animals died in Rabat zoo
Morocco, Local, 2/2/2005

Some 140 animals, including giraffes, elephants, monkeys, tigers and raptors, died in 2004 in the zoo of Temara, some 20 km south of Rabat, said Director of the zoo, Brahim Heddane.

The death of these animals is mainly due to incidents, and many others were killed as a result of inappropriate behaviors of visitors he said.

In the same year, thieves stole an eagle last summer. A hyena, a macaw (a Latin American parrot) and ostrich eggs were also stolen in 1983, 1988 and 2000, he went on.

According to the source, 400,000 persons visited the 50 hectare-wide zoo in 2004, which brought 3.7 mln dhs (370,000 euro) to the zoo, he pointed out.

Meanwhile, 154 animals left the zoo in 2004; some of them were sent to other zoos in Germany and France or sold to individuals. Thanks to these sales, authorized by the High Commissioner for Water and Forests, the zoo has earned 273,000 dhs (27,300 Euro).

The zoo official complained that the facility, opened in 1969, faces many problems especially lack of staff and subsidies. The zoo has to develop other activities such as renting animals to individuals, creating a mobile zoo and amusement centres in the park. The zoo hosts 2,000 animals (1,200 birds, 750 mammals and 50 reptiles), representing five continents faunas. Beside its zoological importance, the zoo is a leisure attraction for national and international visitors.

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