THE EDITOR, Sir:
I SAW a letter regarding the Hope Zoo and the "starving" animals in The Gleaner, and I would like to add my comments in the form of this, which is an open letter to whoever is in charge of the Hope Zoo now.
First, the charge is ridiculously low. There is no need for a charge at all if it is not a realistic one that will help to offset the cost of upkeep. The charge should be $20 for children and $30 for adults. Special rates may be applied to school groups or groups from children's homes. As for the "Petting Zoo" - one can never get in there because there is never anyone available to take you in, so what's the point?
When my family visited the Zoo recently, it was not in good shape at all, and the animals did, for the most part, look depressed - although perhaps not underfed. Animals in captivity often do not get enough exercise and their metabolism suffers, thus their lack of muscle tone and vigorous appearance.
Our greatest shock, and a real disgrace, was the snake house, which could be a splendid attraction, but is now a chamber of horrors - obscenities scrawled where scientific information once was, graffiti provides the filthy "wallpaper." I don't suppose the snakes could care less about the human accommodation, education and health while they loom and gawk at these exotic and aloof reptiles, but I think maybe the zookeepers have something to answer for here. We have a potential really terrific exhibit here, with the main attraction being the large albino Burmese Python (which by the way is looking rather thin and sad).
I would very much like to become a part of a movement to uplift this zoo, which I have known since I was a child .A "guard" told me when we were there last that an Australian group was taking it over. Can we get some information, please? Who are the "Friends of Hope Zoo"? Does this organisation still exist? Please respond to this letter if you are interested in seeing a transformation at Hope Zoo.
I am etc.,
LANA DUPERROUZEL
tammydup@yahoo.com
33 Waterloo Mews
Kingston 10
