At the beginning of March, the Zhytomyr District Administrative Court resumed proceedings in the case of the “Zviropolis” petting zoo. The court had previously suspended the case to obtain evidence from the State Environmental Inspectorate.
On September 20, 2024, UAnimals filed a lawsuit demanding that the operation of the “Zviropolis” petting zoo network be declared illegal and that the wild animals be confiscated. According to eyewitness reports, the network of these facilities keeps animals in inadequate conditions and offers photo services with them, violating the Law “On the Protection of Animals from Cruelty.” The court accepted the lawsuit and began hearing the case.
A few months later, in December, the court suspended the proceedings to gather all necessary materials, requesting evidence of an inspection from the State Environmental Inspectorate.
It’s worth noting that in September last year, a journalist from UAnimals Media completed an internship at “Zviropolis” and published a report about the experience. According to the journalist’s testimony, the conditions in which the animals are kept do not meet their needs. This claim was later confirmed by a former employee of the zoo, who also shared details about the working conditions at “Zviropolis” with UAnimals Media.
In January 2024, UAnimals filed a statement with the police, demanding an investigation into the animals’ living conditions. The State Environmental Inspectorate claimed it found no violations. However, whether the inspection actually took place remains unclear.
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