4.11.2022 – Source: Dala-Demokraten
It’s with a heavy heart I must publish this article. A little group did everything they possibly could in order to save this fantastic park. Unfortunately the politicians, people and companies in Orsa were not interested and we couldn’t engage any rich sponsors either.
I can only say: Shame on you Grönklitt! Shame on you politicians, people and companies in Orsa! You just didn’t care!!
The park director and the keepers are not to blaim. They didn’t maked the decision to close the park. However, they tried to make the last week as good as possible – both for the animals and for the visitors.
This is an excerpt of an article in Dala-Demokraten by Katarina Cham Sjödén:
Predator park closes to visitors on Sunday the 6th of November
– There are a lot of visitors here. A lot of people want to take the opportunity to see the park before we close, says zoo manager Pernilla Thalin, Orsa Predator Park.
The brown bears have hibernated but other animals were awake and show themselves for the last time in Grönklitt.
Sunday is the last day the park is open for visitors. After that, the park will be closed to visitors.
The animals will be relocated and about 15 employees will remain working in the park while the park is being decommissioned, which could take up to two years. No one has been given notice of redundancy.
One of the cubbies
– Of course it’s sad. We get a lot of comments from visitors. There is a lot of engagement. It’s great that people have so much interest in the park, but at the same time it’s frustrating and difficult. It is not us, the staff here in the park, who made the decision to close down, says Pernilla Thalin, park director, Orsa Rovdjurspark.
Visitors regret the closure of the park and find it very sad.
– And I understand that. Animals engage people very much, says Pernilla Thalin.
The bears have gone to sleep, but other animals are awake, and according to tradition in the park, the staff are decorating the park for the ghost holiday in connection with the Halloween celebrations.
There are many activities, such as ghost bingo, where the zookeepers have placed spooky animals in the park. The aim is to find as many of the animals as possible.
Pumpin competition is another activity organised by the Predator Park. Visitors bring their pumpkins and a winning pumpkin is voted for. There is also a ghost quiz and ghostly games with the tigers in Tiger Mountain.
When it’s time to feed the polar bears, visitors gather at Polar World. Hope and her two cubs, who have gotten really big, wait for the zookeepers to throw in food. In this case, pumpkins.
At the reception desk, souvenirs are on sale. Locals who haven’t been to the park for a long time can take one last look.
– We want to do what we usually do during the ‘ghost holiday’ and the staff has really worked to make the park spooky.
I would like to thank all the people who have visited us in the 36 years the park has been open,” says Pernilla Thalin.
Photo credits: Katarina Cham Sjödén
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator
So sad to here this. I remember hearing about Ewa and Wilbar there
Dear Mervi
The closure of the park is very sad. And it shows once again what is more important: money or nature?
With this attitude, not only does this magnificent park have to close. No, mankind will destroy the earth, nature and its beauty with this attitude.
Sad greetings,
Anita
Dear Mervi!
I am very upset by this news.
Money and greed seem to determine the important decisions these days and it looks like evil is once again winning the battle between good and bad.
I feel great sympathy for all the animals affected and for the staff at Orsa. I know the staff are doing all they can to help the animals find good new homes and I hope none of them have to be killed.
I hope that those responsible for the closure will soon realise that this decision was wrong and that the world has become a whole lot worse again. BAD KARMA…
Very saddened
Anke
Dear Mervi!
I am very sad that all efforts did not help.
It is a shame that this wonderful park will close.
Hugs
Ludmila
Yes, now the closure of Orsa is unfortunately final, but it doesn’t seem to hurt most Swedes, otherwise they would have fought more for it. The small dedicated population locally and in the rest of Europe could not do anything against Goliath and his greed. Now all that remains is to hope for a good placement of the beautiful animals in European zoos and to thank the dedicated keepers for their good work, because they too are the losers due to the closure of Orsa.
Mervi, thank you for your commitment and the many enchanting photos and reports from this animal and nature paradise, which we have now finally lost.
Sad greetings
Britta-Gudrun
What a shame for Sweden and the Orsa-Region,
that this lighthouse-project will close forever.
For decades the rest of Europe looked with envy
to the north of Sweden and this wonderful park.
We tried, what we could, to prevent the closing.
But as all over the world, money rules and not
nature or the animals. Its a shame and so sad!
My thoughts especially go to Pernilla and her
well edjucated staff, all the people who made
the park to what it was: an oasis, a beautiful
place for the bears and for animal-lovers. We
know, that you did your best all the years!
I hope, all workers and staff will find a
new job. This is the other story: the park
offered jobs, they are gone now. It makes
angry, how the officials handled to whole
case. Lets hope, that all animals find
good new places in other Zoos. Finito 🙁
Very sad news. We are all devastated. Such a wonderful park should have remained open. I am so sorry so many animals will lose their home. I hope they will be happy in their new homes. Will they be as happy as they were in Orsa? The Orsa Predator Park was the ideal home for many species of animals. I wish all our beloved animals all the best. I want to thank all the wonderful people who did their best so that the park could remain open. We are all so sad.
When Orsa was constructed for the Animals of the Cold, it offered to every animal and zoo lover the possibility to visualize a wonderful park. It was an almost perfect imitation of these animals’ natural habitat. Even though they were living in captivity, it gave them only benefits: no natural enemies, spacious enclosures, sufficient hiding spots, decent food, and if required medical aid. For not forgetting to mention loving keepers. For years, each animal that could find a living place there was called “a lucky one”. But now, all hopes, expectations and dreams turned into an awful nightmare because of money.
I feel so sorry for all the people who have been working with and for these animals. They must be devastated because they know that in the end, there will be solely loss (and not only for their job).
But the only true tragedy is reserved for the animals. Luckily, they are only living day by day and are thus not aware of what is coming upon them. Even though we know that efforts will be made to find “second homes”, it will not work for the majority and their future can be summarized in three words: we once existed. For the others, more visible and more attractive ones, maybe a second home zoo can be found. Their new enclosures can never be hardly comparable to the ones they knew and then I am not even mentioning the possibility to enjoy their right climate conditions (snow included). I am not gullible and I know that these animals will adapt to the new living conditions, because they have no other choice, but to what price! And nobody will ever hear their lament. It makes my heart bleed.
As you have written Patricia perhaps Great Thunberg might have added her support to those trying to save the Orsa Park.
I am so sad.
Ralph – I wrote several times to Greta Thunberg without getting any response at all!
GRETA SCHWEBT IN ANDEREN SPHÄREN.
SIE KANN SICH MIT SOLCHEN SACHEN
NICHT AUSEINANDERSETZEN… 🙄