Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Tuesday 18 July 2017

Puerto Rico economic crisis hits island’s only zoo

deer exposed to tropical The department’s secre-
heat; expired food and tary, Andres Waldemar,
medicines; and a tiger that and the zoo’s former vet-
inspectors said was under- erinarian both declined to
weight and had not had comment.
any medical exams or lab And the USDA did not re-
tests for two years. spond to a request for pre-
“It makes you want to cry,” vious inspection reports.
said Susan Soltero, an ani- But Arce, who was hired
mal activist appointed to a in February, disputed the
newly formed government federal inspectors’ find-
committee charged with ings and said the zoo’s ani-
investigating conditions at mals are now at a healthy
the zoo. weight and in good condi-
“This is unacceptable to tion.
me as a human being.” She acknowledged that
The tiger mentioned in the the 13 current caretakers
USDA report suffered from need training to avoid a
kidney failure and other repeat of the lion deaths
health problems and was and said the zoo should
euthanized last month, hire at least four more.
around the time that five “The workers did not have

A monkey stares out from its enclosure at the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. The lion cubs also died. sufficient training to handle
economic crisis afflicting Puerto Rico for the last decade has also taken a toll on the island’s only Four were crushed by their this type of cubs,” Arce
zoo, with critics saying it is sorely understaffed and struggling to care for its animals on a limited mother after a worker did said.
budget. not properly separate her The deaths and run-down
(AP Photo/Danica Coto) from the cubs, according conditions have prompted
By DANICA COTO struggling to care for its ani- Department of Agricul- to Marilyn Arce, the zoo’s more than 21,000 people
Associated Press mals on a limited budget. ture, which cited dozens of part-time veterinarian, and from Puerto Rico and else-
MAYAGUEZ, Puerto Rico Conditions at Dr. Juan A. violations at the park in its the fifth was asphyxiated where to sign a petition
(AP) — The economic cri- Rivero, a 45-acre zoo fea- most recent report from this while being fed. calling for the zoo’s clo-
sis afflicting Puerto Rico for turing over 300 species in spring. Officials at the zoo referred sure.
the last decade has also the western coastal town They included a distressed questions to Puerto Rico’s Zoo officials have put up
taken a toll on the island’s of Mayaguez, have dete- cougar housed in a tiny Department of Sports and signs in front of certain en-
only zoo, with critics saying riorated so far as to catch enclosure; a lack of work- Recreation, which oversees closures thanking visitors for
it is sorely understaffed and the attention of the U.S. ing fans for camels and the facility. their concern and assuring
them that those animals
are under veterinary care.
Coast Guard: On a recent day Cynthia

Arrests of migrants with criminal records up in Caribbean Gonzalez, 35, watched as
a rhinoceros knocked its
horn repeatedly against a
By DANICA COTO mander for the Coast into the United States pre- and the U.S. Virgin Islands, metal railing. Gonzalez said
Associated Press Guard’s 7th District, which sumably to resume a crimi- said that while the number she came frequently when
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) covers the Caribbean nal career.” Many of those of migrants detained has she was in high school but
— The number of arrests of and the southeastern migrants are trying to ille- dropped in recent months, today it’s noticeably worn.
migrants with criminal re- U.S.“Smugglers are exploit- gally re-enter the United the number of those with “It has become a bit more
cords trying to illegally re- ing the route with what- States from the Bahamas a criminal record has in- deteriorated,” she said.
enter the U.S. after being ever will profit them, and in via boat, or attempting to creased. He said 24 per- “We used to see more
deported has increased this case, it’s these criminal enter the U.S. territory of cent of the 375 migrants animals, and it needs a bit
in the Caribbean, the U.S. elements,” he told The As- Puerto Rico from nearby is- detained in waters Puerto more maintenance.”
Coast Guard said Monday. sociated Press while on a lands such as the British Vir- Rico since October have Angel Luis Rodriguez, who
The recent uptick has au- brief official trip to Puerto gin Islands, he said.Jeffrey been prosecuted, com- was visiting with family,
thorities concerned, said Rico. “These are danger- Quinones, spokesman for pared with 10 percent of agreed: “The animals used
Rear Admiral Peter Brown, ous and violent criminals U.S. Customs and Border 557 detained two years to look stronger before.
the newly appointed com- who are trying to get back Protection in Puerto Rico ago.q They were plumper.”q