Serbian Animals Voice (SAV)

Arturo, Argentina’s only living polar bear, lives in a place where temperatures regularly soar to 40 degrees Celsius.

Yet the Mendoza Zoo refuses to let him go to Canada.

Arturo the polar bear lives in a concrete enclosure by himself at the Mendoza Zoo in Argentina.

Temperatures in the area can regularly soar to more than 40 degrees Celsius. — and Arturo’s only access to water is a pool roughly a foot and a half deep. Arturo deserves to live out his remaining days in a place where he can keep cool!

By polar bear standards, Arturo is elderly at the age of 29. And he’s lonely, too. After his companion died two years ago, Arturo has been experiencing signs of stress and even depression. He rocks back and forth in his pen, pacing and baring his teeth: signs, some animal behaviourists say, that he might be succumbing to mental illness.

So far, the Mendoza Zoo has blocked Arturo’s transfer to Canada’s International Polar Bear Conservation Centre as they say he is too old to travel. But this could be the bear’s only chance at a happy, healthy life.

Ask Mendoza to stop Arturo’s suffering and send him to Canada, where he can grow old in comfort and peace.

Arturo petition link

https://www.change.org/petitions/please-allow-arturo-to-have-a-better-life-in-the-assiniboine-park-zoo-in-canada?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=103165&alert_id=CGMnXXKwqY_Wsjm19W7NoTgwz48JpR4lH4U7LJuJ6MMt8pQndEhFu9%2BKVGN1iwE9J5dVMf0fluH

Petition by

Laura Morales

Hamilton, Canada

We plead for solidarity and sensitivity from President, Mrs. Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, as well as that from Diplomats. We ask that you exercise your authority so the polar bear Arturo, who lives in deplorable conditions in the Mendoza Zoo, is moved to Assiniboine Park Zoo in Canada, where a natural habitat and a better life are awaiting him. We plead that you intervene on this issue and ask the officials in Mendoza who have the polar bear Arturo prisoner to accept Arturo’s transfer to the reserve so he can live in suitable conditions. In December 2012, a polar bear died in Buenos Aires due to heat, causing unease in Argentina and in the international community. After this death, refusal to transfer Arturo causes scandal in the world and Mendoza is becoming sadly famous for this, exporting an image of a retrograde province. Say No to death and suffering! Help Mendoza be part of change, be part of the future. Help Mendoza go back to being good news to the world! Aditional information The Association of Zoos and Aquariums in its Polar Bear Care Manual dictates that “great care should be taken to monitor the interaction between high temperatures and high humidity”, “Techniques to raise or lower humidity within indoor and outdoor exhibits include …. pools in which the bears can swim.” As you can see, Arturo hasn’t been able to swim for 28 years. It also dictates in Article 1.3: “institutions must have a regular program of monitoring water quality for polar bear pools and a written record must document long-term water quality results and chemical additions (AZA Accreditation Standard 1.5.9). Monitoring selected water quality parameters provides confirmation of the correct operation of filtration and disinfection of the water supply available for the animals. Additionally, high quality water enhances animal health programs instituted for polar bears” As you can also see here, this seems to be non important to the Authorities in Mendoza, Arturo´s pool is fill with stagnant water.

Arturo’s shallow pool filled with stagnant water, as he is being freshened up by visitor.

France 24 International News on Arturo’s case

Filed under: CAMPAIGNS - Global Animal Welfare Issues, GENERAL NEWS - International / National / Regional, GLOBAL PETITIONS - Anything Animal, Anywhere ! |