We first visited the Monaco Zoo in these pages some twelve years ago. We weren’t impressed: “Cages are cramped, barren, ill-lit, dirty and show little evidence of care for the specific needs of their occupants.” None of the animals looked happy, most wretched of all was clearly Nina, a Bengal white tiger, “who paced endlessly up and down a space barely three times her own length, periodically groaning with frustration and boredom”. We were touched also by the sight of two skinny and scruffy camels and a hippo whose skin was peeling.

After that initial visit we talked to Virginia McKenna of the Born Free Foundation. Miss McKenna did not mince her words: “It’s a slum zoo,” she told us, “that should be shut down.” Over a decade and more she campaigned, with the notable support of the UK Mail newspapers, using Nina as her poster girl. In Prince Rainier’s time nothing was achieved: “They just don’t seem to care.” Some problems solved themselves: Nina died last year as did an elephant. Just recently, on Prince Albert’s initiative, two leopards, acquired from a circus ten years ago, were sent to a South African game reserve.

So, it seems, change is finally on the way. But why the delay? Most likely it was Prince Albert’s filial piety, which deserves respect, that stopped him from immediately closing the zoo after his father’s death as Born Free was demanding. But now he has announced that it is to be transformed into an educational facility, focusing on farm animals and birds, which seems much more appropriate to the site and its facilities. How does Virginia McKenna view this? “I feel the moment has come,” she told us, “to close the door on the past. What is happening at the zoo is part of a significant and encouraging change, beginning with the rehoming of the leopards Pitou and Sirius. New homes are being sought for many of the animals. This will take time but will happen in due course. Prince Albert wishes to introduce real change and bring about a more caring and compassionate attitude. The Monaco Zoo is only one of the concerns of the Born Free Foundation. To find out more see www.bornfree.org.uk. If people would like to contribute to our other animal welfare projects we would be enormously grateful.”

From Riviera Reporter Issue 126: April/May 2008
 

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Show/Hide comments

Show/Hide comment form