The Management of the San Jose Zoo May Change Hands.

The Simón Bolívar Zoo, located in San José’s Barrio Amón, may soon change hands from the federal government to the municipal. If transferred, the park, which is home to more than 450 animals, would devote it more energy toward conservation, research, and education.

Under the proposed law, the federal government would donate the Simón Bolívar Zoo land and facilities to San José municipality. Under its new ownership, the zoo would undergo remodeling and upgrades, allowing it to pursue its stated goals. Though the two parks are in no way related, a similar proposal is also underway for the Santa Ana Conservation Center (el Centro de Conservación Santa Ana).

San José’s Municipal Council proposed the transfer of ownership for the Santa Ana Conservation Center, working with Ofelia Taitelbaum, congresswoman for the Liberation party. Taitelbaum first consulted with the Ministry of Environment and Energy (Minae) and the Costa Rican Association for Zoologists (Fundazoo), before putting the proposal to the Legislative Assembly. Maureen Ballestero, on the other hand, submitted the Simón Bolívar Zoo proposal without consulting either Minae or Fundazoo.

Ballestero’s sidestep angered Fundazoo, which has been in control of the Simón Bolívar Zoo since 1994. Further fueling the fire, Ballestero’s proposal cited “destitute conditions and installations… that require us to think of new options to give economic support to this historic place” as one of the principal reasons to hand control over to the San José municipality. In response, Fundazoo director Yolanda Matamoros stated simple, “This is not the first time that they spread this kind of slander, which has no technical support at all. The state of both Bolívar and the Conservation Center is far from pitiful.”

It is true that the Simón Bolívar Zoo has improved over the past few years. Four years ago, the zoo received a veterinary certificate of functionality from the National Service for Animal Health and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock. “The animal mortality rate stays steady at 1%, investments and infrastructure are permanent (according to what the zoo’s budget permits) and visitation rates have been going up: just last Sunday, we welcomed 2,500 people,” continued Matamoros.

Despite these statistics, Ballestero and her supporters believe that Fundazoo has not been able to properly maintain and grow the zoo, and that the park’s touristic appeal is slowly wasting away. Johnny Araya, San José mayor, would not discuss Fundazoo details, but showed enthusiasm for a transfer of ownership. “All city parks should depend on the municipality… The Municipality [of San José] has the financial capacity to maintain and modernize Bolívar, and we’re interested in doing so, even if in principle it were impossible to recoup our investment.”

Fundazoo’s 14-year administration has certainly helped the Simón Bolívar Zoo to improve its conditions and facilities. As several officials point out, though, neither the foundation nor Minae have enough resources to continue improvements, and promised federal monies have not yet been delivered. If the zoo’s ownership and maintenance were transferred to the municipality, however, there is no guarantee that San José could supply more funds than already given.

Photo courtesy of La Nacion.

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Filed under: Costa Rican Wildlife on September 3rd, 2008