Puerto Rico zoo animals transferred to sanctuary

Seven lions, a bear, a camel, a porcupine and a marabou stork spent their last day in the Puerto Rico Zoo, as they were put on a flight to Colorado on Friday.A U.S based animal rescue organization started transferring animals from the Puerto Rico’s lone zoo where various species have died, to sanctuaries on the U.S mainland.

Activists have long fought the U.S. territory’s government held responsible for the deaths and ill health of animals reported for more than a decade at the Dr. Juan A. Rivero Zoo.The Wild Animal Sanctuary NGO has taken over the rescue of the zoo animals that will be taken initially to a refuge in Colorado until a permanent home is found for them.

Some of the smaller animals like the reptiles and some monkeys have already been transferred but the bigger mammals like seven lions a bear and even a small porcupine l required some work and logistics.

In March federal authorities dropped all investigations on the zoo regarding the death of various animals, saying the decision came after reaching an agreement with local officials to transfer the animals to sanctuaries on the U.S. mainland.

The decision angered activists that say the mistreatment of the animals should have been investigated.The plan is to transfer all 300 animals that range from a tarantula to a lone elephant.