Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo

The Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo, officially named the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo of Puerto Rico, also known as the Mayagüez Zoo, was a 45-acre (18 ha) zoological park located in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico, owned by the Government of Puerto Rico and operated by the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources, under the agency of the Company of National Parks of Puerto Rico. It was named in honor of Juan A. Rivero, its first director. It was Puerto Rico's only zoo and had an extensive collection of animals from all continents. The zoo closed to the public after the impact of Hurricane Maria in 2017 and fully ceased operations in 2023 after much scrutiny in its final years due to questionable health and treatment of their animals. As of March 2023, many species are being relocated to sanctuaries across the United States.

Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo
Date opened1954[1]
Date closed2017 (public)
2023 (operations)
LocationMiradero
Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Coordinates18.216205°N 67.133085°W / 18.216205; -67.133085
Land area45 acres (18 ha)[2]
No. of species75[3]

History

The zoo was originally opened in 1954, when legislator Benjamin Cole authored the law that created the zoo.[4] The zoo was given the name of its founder and first director Dr. Juan A. Rivero.[5] Starting in 2003 the zoo went through a major upgrade with the addition of the aviary, arthropodary and a butterfly exhibition.[3]

In March 2008 the zoo acquired two new giraffes and two desert warthogs to augment the African collection. The animals were brought from Ohio and Louisiana.[6] The economic crisis related to the government debt crisis in Puerto Rico, which began in 2014, led to issues with zoo maintenance and animal care.[7]

Within the last ten years alone, the zoo had been cited for several violations of inhumane killings, including a puma, coatimundi, and a baboon that were "not fit for exhibition". Two guinea pigs on exhibition were fed alive to reptiles, and deer on exhibition were fed to big cats after having their jugulars cut without using a humane slaughter method. There were also accounts of the zoo using expired medications and having inadequate vet care. The United States Department of Agriculture investigated the zoo, and has not renewed the zoo's federal permits.[8]

Despite the zoo being closed to the public after the passing of Hurricane Maria in September 2017, the zoo still has animals with workers caring for them, and two heathy lion cubs were born at the zoo in 2019.[9] FEMA has assigned $6.2 million for repairs related to the Hurricane.[10]

Since at least 2019 volunteers have helped maintain the Zoo and began preparations for the planned reopening of the facilities, including by painting a mural in the entrance area.[11] The Department of Natural Resources has announced a planned reopening date for 2021.[12]

Caimans at the caiman exhibit.

On May 23, 2022, it was announced that the zoo's chimpanzee, Magnum, had passed away at the age of 39.[13] Although the official cause of death given was his advanced age, animal rights activists asked for his death to be investigated, as they claim he had cardiac ailments for which he received no treatment.[14]

On February 27, 2023, it was announced that the zoo will be closing down permanently, with many of the animals being moved to sanctuaries.[15]

Conservation programs

Committed to animal welfare, especially those facing extinction, the zoo has several conservations programs for the following species:

Facilities
Red-legged thrush at Juan A. Rivero Zoo

After the passing of Hurricane Maria the zoo with the following facilities remained closed to the general public:

  • Recreational areas
  • Souvenir Shop
  • Museum
  • Aviary
  • Mammal, birds, reptile and amphibian exhibits
  • Arthropodary

Adoption program

In an effort to promote conservation, the Dr. Rivero Zoo has started an adoption program in which citizens can "adopt" one of the zoo's animals, and donate to contribute in conservation efforts.

References
  1. "Zoological". pr.gov. Government of Puerto Rico. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved July 30, 2011.
  2. "The Mayaguez Zoo Near Cabo Rojo- Puerto Rico's Largest". puertorico.com. NewMedia Holdings, Inc. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  3. Mari, Brenda A. (March 25, 2005). "Something Sweet Like Mango in the Air: A Primer on Mayagüez". Puerto Rico Herald. Puerto Rico. Retrieved August 8, 2010.
  4. "Hoy designarían carretera en Mayagüez como 'Avenida Benjamín Cole Vázquez'". Primera Hora (in Spanish). 2020-06-11. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  5. "Fallece el fundador del Zoológico de Puerto Rico". Ciencia Puerto Rico (in Spanish). 2014-03-03. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  6. Leon Alvarado, Gary E. (March 25, 2008). "Singulares advenedizos". elnuevodia.com. El Nuevo Dia. Archived from the original on January 22, 2013. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
  7. Coto, Danica (July 17, 2017). "Puerto Rico economic crisis hits island's only zoo". The Associated Press News. Retrieved July 17, 2017.
  8. "Federal inspectors find inhumane killings, injuries at Puerto Rico's only zoo". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved 2021-08-22.
  9. "Crecen saludables dos cachorros de león nacidos en el Zoológico de Mayagüez". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). 26 April 2019. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  10. Jiménez, Lester. "FEMA asigna $6.2 millones para mejoras al Zoológico de Mayagüez". www.noticel.com. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  11. Venes, Pablo. "Embellecen el zoológico de Mayagüez". Metro (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  12. CyberNews. "Voluntarios trabajan para agilizar la reapertura del Zoológico de Mayagüez". www.noticel.com. Retrieved 2021-05-04.
  13. "Muere Magnum, chimpancé del zoológico de Mayagüez". El Nuevo Día (in Spanish). 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2022-06-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. "Piden se investigue la muerte de chimpancé "Magnum" en el zoológico de Mayagüez". Primera Hora (in Spanish). 2022-05-24. Retrieved 2022-06-21.
  15. https://www.elnuevodia.com/noticias/locales/notas/cerraran-de-manera-permanente-el-zoologico-de-mayaguez/
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.