PLEASE, WRITE YOUR FURTHER COMMENTS IN THE ARTICLE ‘LET’S WISH FIETE BEST OF LUCK’. This comment field is soon over crowded and we can’t write more here.

Mervi

Ich halte von PETA überhaupt nichts: wenn es nach denen ginge, müssten alle Zoos schließen. Ich erinnere mich noch an üble Aktionen im Nürnberger Tiergarten von diesen “Durchgeknallten” (sorry), wo sogar auf den Bärenfelsen gekraxelt wurde und man dort ein deppertes Transparent entfaltete. Nein, über diese “Hilfe” können wir uns nicht freuen… 🙄

Diese vorgefertigten Briefe haben wohl alle bekommen.
Sehr enttäuschend: aber ich habe im Grunde nichts
anderes von den Verantwortlichen erwartet… 🙄
Hoffentlich können wir doch noch irgendeine Lösung für
Larsson finden, die ihm des Bleiben in Ungarn erspart.

Dear Mervi,

Thank you for your opinion and comment! In your letter, we perceive the great animal love, which we appreciate, as we also work for animals in the Budapest Zoo, to protect nature and to improve our visitors’ understanding of the Earth’s creatures.

As endangered species, polar bear is a priority species of a coordinated breeding programme for the conservation of species around the world. Our zoo is committed to preserving biodiversity for future generations and we are also involved in the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP) breeding programme of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). Budapest is an important location for the international breeding programme, and the polar breeding programme is largely satisfied with the professional work being carried out here.

Our zoo has a centuries-old tradition of polar bears, we have a good knowledge of the species, and we care for all our animals with the utmost regard for animal welfare. The conditions under which the animals are kept comply with the Hungarian regulations in force.

At the same time, we are constantly striving to provide all our animals with a higher enclosure and close to natural life environment. As our zoo is housed in a protected, historical monument, we cannot do this with the polar bears, when the enclosure needs to be further upgraded and reconstructed. This is why we have signalled to the international polar breeding programme that we want to stop keeping polar bears. In close cooperation with the international breeding programme, we started preparations to enable the breeding programme to exclude the Budapest zoo from the polar breeding programme. We trust that, after 31 March 2024, places will be found for key species that are currently not available elsewhere as they can live in our zoo in safety and integrity.

Fiete is also involved in the international breeding programme and moves to a new place from Budapest a few months later. Since December, we have been a resident of our zoo, under a fully healthy, continuous veterinary control.

Like you, we are approaching the animals with limitless loves, and many of our colleagues have devoted their entire lives to the day-to-day care of our animals, all of whom we regard as our protected friends.

Going forward, we continue to count on your opinion and comments.

Kind Regards,

Budapest Zoo customer service

I’m so grateful for all the information you share with us! I’m sure we all want to receive the same good news of our beloved Fiete! Let’s keep our fingers crossed!

Hugs from Mervi