Despite the rising of public attention and international criticism following some unpleasant episodes of animal cruelty and abuse happened over the last years, many people still report the terrible living conditions that animals suffer in this structure.

Belvedere Zoo, constructed in 1963 and located in the center of the Tunisian capital has regularly faced disapproval for the extremely precarious and unhealthy conditions in which animals are forced to live. They are imprisoned in very small cages, neglected, dehydrated, malnourished in a structure where maintenance, hygiene, sanitary control and good care are not provided.

All these animals have been suffering terrible conditions for years. Some of them already died and the remaining are sick and depressed and they will soon lose their life if the authorities won’t take an urgent and decisive measure to solve the problem and find a proper solution to protect them.

Citizens, animal activities and associations have already stood up asking to stop this suffering but no answer has been given so far.

There are no surveillance or zookeepers inside the structure, so people feel free to misbehave and do whatever they want to the animals from feeding until mistreating them. As it happened in 2017 when a crocodile was found dead because some visitors decided to bit him to death with stones.

Through photos and videos shared on social media, the miserable health conditions of the animals were shown worldwide reinforcing the poor reputation of the zoo but, even if after the crocodile death the municipality started some maintenance works, the conditions in which animals are held are still pitiful and the structure continues to display lack of resources and personnel.

There are still starving and neglected animals: monkeys perishing in tiny cages, pigs of Vietnam undernourished and without water, a bear in agony unable to move, a lion abandoned in a pit, injured animals not treated, and many others.

OIPA International wants to report this terrible situation that violates all international conventions for the protection of animals and the environment, first the Five Freedom. We ask the municipality of Tunis and the government of Tunisia to cooperate and find together a solution in order the save the animals survived and relocate them in sanctuaries where they can benefit from adequate care and an environment that can meet their natural needs.

Animals deserve to live in the wild, enjoying their freedom and not suffering imprisoned for the sake of human beings.

We now ask your help to put pressure on the local government and give those animals a chance.

You can send a letter to the following:

Text:

“Please, I am aware of the extremely precarious and unhealthy living conditions that animals suffer at the Belvedere Zoo in Tunis. They are imprisoned in small cages, neglected, dehydrated, malnourished, sick and depressed in a structure where maintenance, hygiene, sanitary control and good care are not provided. This terrible situation violates all international conventions for the protection of animals and the environment. I ask the municipality of Tunis and the government of Tunisia to cooperate and find a solution in order the save the animals survived and relocate them in sanctuaries where they can benefit from adequate care and an environment that can meet their natural needs. Animals deserve to live in the wild, enjoying their freedom and not suffering imprisoned for the sake of human beings. Thanks”