Costa Rica Plans to Close its Nation’s Zoos and Release All Captive Animals

Costa Rica, a country that’s home to 4% of all known species in the world and the first to completely ban hunting for sport, announced that it will close the nation’s zoos and free all animals.

The zoos “are getting rid of cages and reinforcing the idea of interacting with biodiversity in botanical parks in a natural way,” says Environmental Minister René Castro.

This, of course, is great news, but a court ruling last Friday determined that the zoos are contractually obligated to remain open for another 10 years.

As for animals that would be killed shortly after release on account of being coddled and unable to fend for themselves for the entirety of their lives, they will be cared for in rescue centres and wildlife sanctuaries.

Sure, it might be another decade before this happens, but this is one giant panda leap in the right direction.

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