18:52, 21 June 2015

Tbilisi protesters demand to close the zoo

Protesters in Tbilisi. Photo by Inna Kukudzhanova for the ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Tbilisi has hosted a protest action under the motto "We Need No Zoo!" The organizers intend to demand from local authorities to close the zoo and open a refuge for savage animals instead.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that at night on June 14 Tbilisi was affected by a heavy rain, which led to flooding. Several city streets were flooded; houses and buildings were destroyed; and the city infrastructure was damaged. The low-lying Tbilisi Zoo was completely flooded, as a result, some animals, including predators, ran out into the street. In total, the disaster killed at least 300 out of 600 zoo animals.

The protest action held on June 21 under the motto "Zoo is Prison" was attended by up to forty people of all ages and from different social groups. The demand to close the zoo was supported by several Tbilisi bikers.

The protest was organized by the NGO "Vegan Georgia", which opposes the zoo for a number of reasons, including cruel treatment of animals, poor maintenance of them, frequent absence of drinking water and facts of violence against animals.

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.

Author: Inna Kukudzhanova

Source: CK correspondent