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The Bern Zoo has decided to close its popular petting zoo. This means that miniature donkeys, ponies, mini pigs and goats should find new homes. The zoo management decided this last fall.
The reason behind this: keeping animals in the children’s zoo is no longer relevant, according to zoo director Friederike von Houwald (53). There are no pastures for the animals and it is very hot in the summer. There is also a lack of space to modernize the small stables.
Initiative decided
The SVP City of Bern is not happy with this decision at all. Now the party wants to present the matter to the Bernese electorate – it has announced to Blick that it is launching a popular initiative. “It cannot be the case that the city children only know the animals from the iPad,” says SVP city councilor Janosch Weyermann (28). His party has collected signatures for a petition in recent months. This went so well that the SVP Bern decided to launch a referendum.
Many families have an emotional bond with the petting zoo. “I also have fond memories of my wonderful children’s birthdays there,” says Weyermann. The petting zoo is an important part of Bern and a popular excursion destination, especially for families, also because there is no entrance fee. Weyermann’s party now wants to collect 5,000 signatures in 6 months, after which the residents of Bern can decide on the planned closure.
Animal Welfare welcomes the decision
Interestingly, Bernd Schildger (68) also supports the preservation of the petting zoo. The old but now retired director of the zoo advised his Facebook friends to support the petition to save the petting zoo. Schildger is a member of the SVP and ran for the Bern city council in 2016, but was unsuccessful.
Bern’s animal protection agency, on the other hand, is happy with the zoo management’s decision. It is especially stressful for young animals when they are petted. In 2016, the Federal Council also advocated banning rabbits, guinea pigs and chicks in temporary petting zoos, i.e. at exhibitions and fairs. He had no success with it.
If the zoo management approves, a building to store food for the animals will one day be built on the petting zoo grounds. The construction phase is planned for 2027 to 2028.
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
