15.10.2022 – Source: Moratidningen, Photos by Mervi & Vesa
This is an excerpt of an article published in Moratidningen on the 14th of October 2022.
Three weeks to go – then the Predator Park closes: “Then the exodus of the animals begins”
As the zoo closes to visitors on the 6th of November, the staff continues to put the big puzzle together to place the animals in other zoos.
– As soon as we close the park to visitors, the exodus begins. There is a species coordinator for each species and it is a matter of mapping how the animals fit together genetically, in age, in character. It’s a huge job,” says zoo manager Pernilla Thalin.
The animals in the Predator Park will find new homes in both Swedish and European zoos.
The work of placing the animals is coordinated by species coordinators within EAZA, the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria, or the European Zoological Association.
The announcement of the closure of the Predator Park came in January 2022. The reason, according to Grönklittsgruppen, which owns and operates the Predator Park, was poor profitability over a number of years. The staff had to start working on the closure and Pernilla Thalin is impressed by the staff’s attitude to the work.
Eva and Miki
– Everyone has adapted to the task at hand and we have had a summer with an incredible amount of visitors, wondering what is happening with the animals and us. It’s been stressful, but it’s also shown how committed people are.
The brown bears will be allowed to finish their hibernation and the polar bear cubs will be allowed to stay with their mother for as long as the nursing period lasts. Wilbär, the male polar bear, has moved and Ewa and Hope, the females, remain with their cubs.
– Wilbär’s was already planned before the closure was announced. He has had two sets of offspring here and it was time for him to pass on his genes to other zoos.
Wilbär and Eva
Wilbär
Other zoos have shown a great willingness to help with the placement of the animals. There are 45 or so individuals to be relocated from the Predator Park and Pernilla Thalin believes most will find new homes, but a lot of things will fall into place. The animals will also be prepared for the move.
Medical preparation, such as vaccination and deworming, is carried out. The animals are trained to go into transport cages and the individuals are also matched with the animals in the zoo they are moving to.
Kodiak bear Taquka
– We continuously evaluate the welfare of our animals and follow both animal welfare legislation and ethical guidelines, where we must also now include the ability for individuals to adapt to new environments or long journeys.
– We are working on species conservation and our zoo animals are ambassadors for their wild relatives.
Nanook and Noori (Hope’s cubs)
Of course, during all processes that take place in the zoo, animal welfare and safety must be maintained. During the summer, some receiving zoos have visited Grönklitt to meet the animals.
– Staff from the zoos have been looking at the animals’ environment, looking at our procedures and working methods to get to know them in order to prepare the new environment. Brown bears generally do not need to be sedated for transport. They enter the cage on their own, other animals need to be anaesthetised both to be vaccinated, dewormed and anaesthetised a second time in order to be transported, for example.
No staff in the Predator Park have been given notice of redundancy at present. Ten to 14 employees work in the park, some have taken leave for studies or to try other occupations, which has meant that the park has had to bring in temporary staff.
– The closure of a zoo is very rare. Few other zoos have the experience of the work we are doing now. We have built up an enormous amount of knowledge as keepers and although this all feels very much like learning, we are at a high level of expertise.
The closure also removes the zoo’s mission to work on species conservation, research and education. It is not clear what will happen to the 325,000 square metres of the Predator Park and Predator Centre with its exhibition area, café, conference section and shop.
Hope with her twins Nanook and Noori
– We want as much of the inventory as possible to be reused, but I don’t know what will happen to the facility,” says Pernilla Thalin.
The Predator Park in Grönklitt was opened in 1986. It is home to Swedish species such as wolves, bears and lynx. The Predator Centre opened in 2007.
Save the Orsa Predator Park – homepage
Save the Orsa Predator Park – Facebook
We are a little group that has been trying to save this unique park but the Swedish authorities and companies are both deaf and blind. A miracle is needed now – maybe a multimillionaire could help us so please, contact this foundation as soon as possible. If we are many we may have a chance to be heard and seen!
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
email: media@gatesfoundation.org
Dear Mervi. You tried so hard to avoid this moment. Sweden has lost a priceless asset and Gronklitt should be ashamed.
Dear Mervi, I totally agree with Ralph. Sometimes, no matter how hard one tries it is just never enough……the mountain is just to high to climb. The loss of Orsa Predator Park will be such a sad day for everyone involved and for animal conservation. I thank you and others for all your efforts in trying to reverse what looks like an inevitable outcome.
Kind Regards
Pat
Dear Mervi!
We live in difficult times, but hope dies last.
All those who, with the dollar sign in their eyes, are responsible for the closure of this unique animal refuge, even if it is by doing nothing, will now have to live with this responsibility for the rest of their lives and look at themselves in the mirror every day… I feel a little sorry for them!
What bad karma…
I think of the Liebermann sentence: “I can’t eat as much as I want to puke!”
Mervi, Thank you for all your efforts and everything you have tried!
Hugs and paw waves
Anke
Dear Mervi,
Thank you very much for your efforts to save Orsa. We really appreciate them. I am praying for all the animals.
Dear Mervi!
There is no more hope to prevent the closing of the Orsa Park. You tried hard and I am very sorry, that there is no success.
Now I only hope there will be a good solution for the animals.
Hugs
Ludmila
Die Hoffnung ist bei mir schon lange gestorben.
Allein ich habe dutzende von Mails an Politiker,
Organisationen und Einzelpersonen bis hin zum
Königshaus geschickt. Es gab mehrere Petitionen.
All das hat offensichtlich nichts gebracht. Weder
die schwedischen noch die deutschen Freunde konnten
etwas ausrichten. Wie Pernilla schreibt: die Politiker
und die Gesellschaft müssen taub und blind sein, so einen
Schatz gehen zu lassen, in so einem reichen Land, wie Schweden
es ist. Eine unglaubliche Schande, dieses Leuchtturm-Projekt ein-
gehen zu lassen! Ich bin immer noch sprach- und fassungslos über
so viel Ignoranz der Verantwortlichen in Wirtschaft & Politik! 🙄
Dear Mervi,
unfortunately, it was to be feared that we would lose the battle for Orsa Park as David against Goliath and that we would have to accept with a heavy heart that this wonderful refuge for the animals would be sacrificed for the sake of the mammon.
Now we can only hope that the animals will find a good home in other zoos. The fact that the polar bear mothers are left together with their cubs until weaning time is at least a small consolation and a “humane” gesture, as long as they don’t shorten the weaning time rapidly….
A thousand thanks to you for all your efforts on behalf of this paradise, of which you have sent us such wonderful reports and enchanting photos over the years.
The anger about the failure of those responsible in politics and business remains!