[Animals] Egypt zoo overhaul plan raises animal welfare fears

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Nearby, visitors can also feed sweet potatoes to a camel or hay to zebra, or get keepers to prod a caged lion for a selfie. The historic zoo was the first in the region and was once a symbol of Egypt's modernity. But its practices - which experts say are rooted in the 1950s - and its premises are badly in need of an update. Still, a recent government announcement that its doors will be closed for a year to make improvements has been met with scepticism by the public and animal welfare groups alike. "My kids love the zoo. We come here on weekends and holidays," says Ahmed Ibrahim, a father of four, sitting on a small rug with his family by the pelican pond.

The factory worker, who is paid just under $100 (£82) a month, has little money to spare for leisure activities and fears the zoo will now become unaffordable. Like millions of Egyptians, he has been hit by skyrocketing prices and the latest currency devaluation. "Right now, the entrance ticket is five [Egyptian] pounds ($0.20; £0.16) and the kids go free. How much will it be after the new development?" Ahmed wonders. Poor conditions For the renovation, Egypt's ministry of agriculture is handing over responsibility for the 80 acres of zoo and gardens to a military-run company and a United Arab Emirates-based consultancy. In return, they will get the right to profits made over the next 25-years. The Egyptian President, Abdul Fattah al-Sisi, says the project will "develop the zoo to be similar to its world-class peers". He has previously complained about the site, saying it represents "the extent of negligence and shortcomings" in the country.

Poor conditions - including elephants tethered on short chains, a giraffe so depressed it killed itself, and monkeys being provoked by children - have drawn negative attention in recent years. The zoo has long lost its membership of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (Waza). Today, keepers still lack training and are low paid. Many hold back food for animals until visitors pay for it and will harass caged creatures to make them roar or perform tricks in exchange for tips. 'Lack of transparency' One of the many reforms promised is to replace the Victorian-style, cell-like cages for lions and bears with open-range spaces. However, animal rights advocates are worried. They complain that the plans for the zoo lack transparency and do not prioritise the welfare of the animals kept there, which include some endangered species. "The zoo is too small to build open-range spaces," says veteran activist Dina Zulfikar. "Officials talk about the zoo as an entertainment centre rather than a zoological garden. The real goals of modern zoos are completely overlooked." Ms Zulfikar has previously successfully campaigned for improvements at the zoo, such as fans and a cooling system for the bear exhibit.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-64295601