Kelly is an English teacher and freelance writer who has left her beloved Yorkshire in... Kelly is an English teacher and freelance writer who has left her beloved Yorkshire in pursuit of cake and other adventures. A geosciences graduate, Kelly is passionate about environmental issues, TV shows, and, well, cake. Read more about Kelly Wang Read More
In 2016, animal lovers around the world, and especially in Buenos Aires, rejoiced at the news that the appallingly-run Buenos Aires Zoo was shutting down. Hearing that it would be transformed into an EcoPark gave all who had been following the story of the zoo, and its treatment of the animals in its care, a little hope that this time around, things would be done right.
Disappointingly, two years on, it appears that absolutely nothing has changed. Just within the last month, there have been two deaths: first, of an 18-year-old giraffe named Jackie, caused by colic and a perforated ulcer, and second, of a rare white rhinoceros who died of a number of infections.
Alone these deaths might be considered sad tragedies, yet they are just the latest events highlighting the negligence of those responsible for this park. Since the zoo’s closure, 119 animals have died, and more than 20 have escaped. Even the zoo’s former director, Claudio Bertonatti, thinks more animals might die due to gross negligence. He has since filed a formal statement requesting that authorities determine the other causes of death.
Bertonatti said, “These conditions were likely the result of poor management and stress induced by the ongoing renovation works in enclosures.” He also pointed to videos taken by informants showing rats and cockroaches in the animal enclosures, showing just what awful conditions these poor animals were kept in.
SinZoo activist Malala Fontan added, “In my opinion, the infections that ultimately caused Ruth’s death were prompted by the rats and the unsanitary conditions inside the enclosures … These animals have also been put under a lot of stress due to the ongoing renovations and recent layoffs of their usual caretakers.” The EcoPark remains closed at this time for these renovations with no word on how long these are supposed to take.
Many animals held in parks like the Buenos Aires EcoPark are kept in terrible conditions, suffering from both physical and mental illnesses because of how they are treated, when they should be free to roam their natural habitats. Stories about the abuse of animals in these parks continue to filter through to our social media. We have to become a world that refuses animals in captivity for our own entertainment.
Please take a look at the petition raised on Care2 calling for Buenos Aires mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta to shut down this awful EcoPark. Please add your signature to speak for those who can’t.

Image Source: Maarten van den Heuvel/Unsplash
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BOYCOTT THIS DEATH HOLE AND SAVE WILDLIFE ANIMALS. LET\’S WATCH THE GREEDY DEATH HOLE ECOPARK GO UNDER.
BOYCOTT – Taking children to a death hole such as this Ecopark bloody jail is teaching children it is O.K. to fatten-up the owners; bank accounts while they are killing innocent wild animals. BOYCOTT.
Buenos Aires mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta
Presidency of Buenos Aires Mauricio Macri and all other "oh so important decision makers!!!" at the ..$%^%………….. abusive/bloody/slaughtering Buenos Aires ecopark.
President Mauricio Macri PRO
Vice-President Gabriela Michetti PRO
Ministers of State
Chief of the Cabinet of Ministers Marcos Peña PRO
Ministers
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Worship Jorge Faurie Ind.
Ministry of the Tresuary Nicolás Dujovne UCR
Ministry of Defence Oscar Aguad UCR
Minister of the Interior Rogelio Frigerio PRO
Ministry for Finance Luis Caputo PRO
Ministry of Agriculture Luis Miguel Etchevehere Ind.
Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security Jorge Triaca PRO
Ministry of Education Alejandro Finocciaro Ind.
Ministry of Social Development Carolina Stanley PRO
Ministry of Tourism Gustavo Santos UCR
Ministry of Security Patricia Bullrich PRO
Ministry of Transportation Guillermo Dietrich PRO
Ministry of Health Adolfo Rubinstein UCR
Ministry of Science, Technology and Productive Innovation Liño Barañao Ind.
Ministry of Culture Pablo Avelluto PRO
Ministry of Justice and Human Rights German Garavano Ind.
Ministry of Production Francisco Cabrera PRO
Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development Sergio Bergman PRO
Ministry of Modernization Andres Ibarra PRO
Ministry of Energy and Mining Juan Jose Aranguren
– WHERE ARE THE "BIG ARGENTINA DECISION MAKERS!!!"
– SITTING AT THE FRONT ROW OF THIS ………………. DEATH HOLE BUENOS AIRES ECOPARK ……… WATCHING CRUELTY AND DEATH IN THE MAKING?????????????????????????
All of you listed above have the authority to close this death hole at the BUENOS AIRES ECOPARK – What the hell are you people waiting for to close it NOW?????????????????
It is high time that all of you listed above got off your cosy office recliner chairs and CLOSE THIS …………. ZOO NOW.
READ MORE ABOUT THIS BLOODY GREEDY ZOO:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/31/argentina-buenos-aires-zoo-closure-ecopark-animal-deaths
"according to Bertonatti, the ecopark is falling short on these promises “One hundred and nineteen ANIMALS HAVE DIED between 23 June 2016, when the BUENOS AIRES government took over the management of the former zoo, and 23 June 2018. A further 12 escaped, 15 were freed and 241 were transferred during this period,” he said. "
"In 2016, animal lovers around the world, and especially in Buenos Aires, rejoiced at the news that the appallingly-run Buenos Aires Zoo was shutting down. Hearing that it would be transformed into an EcoPark gave all who had been following the story of the zoo, and its treatment of the animals in its care, a little hope that this time around, things would be done right.
Disappointingly, two years on, it appears that absolutely nothing has changed. Just within the last month, there have been two deaths: first, of an 18-year-old giraffe named Jackie, caused by colic and a perforated ulcer, and second, of a rare white rhinoceros who died of a number of infections.
Alone these deaths might be considered sad tragedies, yet they are just the latest events highlighting the negligence of those responsible for this park. Since the zoo’s closure, 119 animals have died, and more than 20 have escaped. Even the zoo’s former director, Claudio Bertonatti, thinks more animals might die due to gross negligence. He has since filed a formal statement requesting that authorities determine the other causes of death.
Bertonatti said, “These conditions were likely the result of poor management and stress induced by the ongoing renovation works in enclosures.” He also pointed to videos taken by informants showing rats and cockroaches in the animal enclosures, showing just what awful conditions these poor animals were kept in.
SinZoo activist Malala Fontan added, “In my opinion, the infections that ultimately caused Ruth’s death were prompted by the rats and the unsanitary conditions inside the enclosures … These animals have also been put under a lot of stress due to the ongoing renovations and recent layoffs of their usual caretakers.” The EcoPark remains closed at this time for these renovations with no word on how long these are supposed to take.
Many animals held in parks like the Buenos Aires EcoPark are kept in terrible conditions, suffering from both physical and mental illnesses because of how they are treated, when they should be free to roam their natural habitats. Stories about the abuse of animals in these parks continue to filter through to our social media. We have to become a world that refuses animals in captivity for our own entertainment.
Please take a look at the petition raised on Care2 calling for Buenos Aires mayor Horacio RODRIGUEZ LARRETA to shut down this awful EcoPark. Please add your signature to speak for those who can’t."
BOYCOTT – Taking children to a death hole such as this Ecopark bloody jail is teaching children it is O.K. to fatten-up the owners; bank accounts while they are killing innocent wild animals.
BOYCOTT.