10/10/09 Demand for Official Supervision of the Circus Safari
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Rural Development
Office of Veterinary Inspection
Miramarska 24
10000 Zagreb
October 10, 2009
SUBJECT: DEMAND FOR URGENT INSPECTION SUPERVISION
Animal Friends asks the title to undertake an urgent inspection of the Circus Safari, temporary located on the east parking lot of the Zagreb Fair, for violations of Article 3 paragraph (26), Article 4 paragraph (2) item 11 and 13, and Article 41 of Animal Protection Act (Official Gazette No. 135/06) and for violations of Article 32 and Article 41 of the Veterinary Medicine Act (Official Gazette No. 41/07)
EXPLANATION
The above legal person, the Circus Safari (called the ZOO, the visit to which is charged to visitors), temporarily located on the east parking lot of the Zagreb Fair, contrary to Article 3 paragraph (26) of the Animal Protection Act (Official Gazette No. 135/06) publicly exhibits domestic and wild animals in a way that violates Article 32 of the Veterinary Medicine Act (Official Gazette No. 41/07), for holding illegal animal exhibits without control and supervision of the veterinary inspection; as well as violating Article 105 paragraph (1) of the Nature Protection Act (Official Gazette No. 70/05) which requires that permission in the form of a Decision of the Inspection of the Ministry of Culture be obtained for keeping wild species in captivity, the lack of which we have also informed the competent authority of the Ministry for further proceedings.
Furthermore, animals in circus acts organized by the Circus Safari are forced into unnatural behavior contrary to Article 4 paragraph (2) item 11 of the Animal Protection Act (Official Gazette No. 135/06), and contrary to Article 4 paragraph (2) item 13 of the same Act, the animals are, based on their species, exposed to adverse temperature and weather conditions in relation to their natural habitat (e.g. camels).
Pursuant to Article 124 paragraph (1) of the Veterinary Medicine Act (Official Gazette No. 41/07) we ask that the title undertake inspection supervision of equipment, means and conditions in which the animals are kept in the above Circus Safari, which is contrary to Article 41 of the Animal Protection Act (Official Gazette No. 135/06), as the equipment with which animals are in contact with in their dwelling can be dangerous for the animals (e.g. inadequate fencing, through which it is possible to enter and come in contact with the animals, as well as strips made of artificial hard- or untearable material, which are probably "electric shepherds," hanging within the inner side of the fence and posing an entanglement threat to the animals from both the inner and outer side of the fence). There are no clearly marked warning signs anywhere.
Hereby, pursuant to Article 127 paragraphs (1) and (2) of the Veterinary Medicine Act (Official Gazette No. 41/07) and Article 64 of the Animal Protection Act (Official Gazette No. 135/06), we ask the title to immediately issue a decision that will require immediate removal of all established irregularities and prohibit further harsh violations of the laws of the Republic of Croatia.
On all measures and actions taken as well as the results thereof, we kindly ask for your written response.
Sincerely,
Martina Jurisa, criminologist (PhD)
Animal Friends
