Ecological inspectors checked the condition of an injured raccoon from the biopark in Odesa

Specialists from the State Ecological Inspectorate of the Southwestern District visited the private zoo Bio-Park in Odesa to check information about the injured raccoon, which, according to activists, is being kept in inadequate conditions.

According to the press service of the environmental inspectorate, the group also included officials from the Department of Ecology of the Odesa City Council, specialists from the Odesa municipal zoo, and police officers.

The experts examined the animals and the place where they are kept, and ecologists concluded that the area of the enclosure where the five raccoons of the private zoo live meets the requirements of the Procedure for Keeping Wild Animals in Captivity, in particular, the animals have shelter, water, fresh air and natural light.

The inspectors also found that the raccoon had been injured in a fight with other members of the pack. According to the inspectors, he is currently undergoing treatment at a veterinary clinic. When he recovers, he will be placed back in the cage with the pack, however, if the other raccoons do not accept him, the management of the Bio-Park promised to place the animal in a separate room.

According to the YouControl service, the Bio-Park limited liability company was registered in 2015 in Odesa. The owner is Raisa, the mother of Oleksiy Kislovsky, a member of the Odesa City Council.

Earlier, lawyers of the NGO UAnimals prepared a statement to the police demanding to investigate the case of possible improper keeping of animals in the Biopark. The video with the raccoon was filmed by visitors to the Odesa Biopark, and the animal was still in the enclosure despite obvious problems with movement. The video caused outrage among animal rights activists, and the zoo commented on the incident, saying that the animal had simply fought with others and that this was normal for wildlife. However, the activists noted that the zoo is not wildlife and people are responsible for the animals kept there.

Кирило Бойко