Animal welfare commissioner urges enforcement of court rulings against Melios Zoo

Nicosia, Cyprus. Animal Welfare Commissioner Elias Myrianthous said on Sunday that authorities should already have enforced court rulings against Melios Zoo, after a bear was found outside its cage on Saturday evening.

Calls for enforcement and inspections

Myrianthous told the Cyprus News Agency that the rulings concerned breaches of animal welfare laws and regulations.

He said the incident confirmed “all these concerns” raised over the years and that the competent services “should have already proceeded with the implementation of the court decisions”.

He also called for more systematic inspections of zoos, saying “the law requires them in the same way as it does for farm animals”.

The commissioner has no executive powers. His role is limited to advising on weaknesses and helping coordinate services.

Owner disputes account of escape

Owner Menelaos Menelaou gave a differing account, saying the bear never left its enclosure but was outside its cage for about an hour from around 7pm, after visitors had left.

He said he called police as a precaution and that officers waited in the car park while he dealt with the animal.

Menelaou said state agencies had inspected the site many times and had never criticised its construction or its safety for animals or the public.

Veterinary services director Christodoulos Pipis said police informed his department that the owner had reported the bear escaped while he was trying to feed it.

Long-running dispute with the state

The zoo has been in dispute with the state for years. On April 9, a court confirmed that the park had breached safety rules and had no valid permit.