I found an Õhtuleht article about Tallinn Zoo called [PEOPLE SCREAM, ANIMALS CRY: “The zoo has long wanted to blow itself up!”](https://www.ohtuleht.ee/1092883/inimesed-kraaklevad-loomad-surevad-loomaaed-tahab-juba-ammu-ennast-vagisi-ohku-lasta) (or that is what Google Translate is telling me).
From what I understood from the preview, some animals have died / been euthanized and an anonymous zookeeper is blaming the managers for it, and as a result, the zoo’s collection manager has been fired. Would anyone happen to have a subscription and can explain in detail what the article says is going on at the zoo?
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by aeemeli
2 comments
Not completely related to the article, but honestly, that zoo probably should’ve been closed down long time ago.(unless there has been a big change in the last 5 years). Main reason: completely underfunded. Staff underpaid. The standard of living for the inhabitants is below and reasonable standard – even for a zoo. Allocated space for some animals was way too small. It is a cruel place. I am surprised that any kind of international organization has not asked for them to shut down their operation.
It was quite a sad sight last time I visited it.
It’s very yellow newspaper, hence the stupid headline which is exactly as google has translated it. Basically Estonian The Sun. There have been some deaths. One rhino, Kigoma, died in June due to an accident. Rhinos had been taken into spare yard, as their own area had some floor renovation. In the former elephants area one day the rhino pushed himself up the wall and got his head stuck between some poles. He died before the pole was cut. The other rhino Kibibi developed some feet problems in september, unfortunately it wasn’t treatable and she had to be euthanized.
Saltwater crocodile Lonni, she had been in Tallinn zoo since 1972, died due to peritonitis, caused by coins in her stomach. Some old Estonian Kroon coins were found in her stomach that had eroded really thin and sharp. Throwing coins is a stupid thing that people do. Zoos all over the world have this problem with reptiles swallowing coins and phones.
Nine year old snow leopard Deli was euthanized in august due to inflammation of the urinary system and kidney failure. Life expectancy of snow leopards in wild is 10-12 years in captivity even up to 20 years.
Abyssinian ground hornbill, Dendi, died in june 2022, cause a coin in digestive system.
The other comment is meanly critical. The situation isn’t so bad. The Zoo is developing. They build and open new areas. The living conditions of the animals are being improved all the time.