The regime of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo will convert the zoo into a national park governed by the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Marena), according to the initiative of “Law Creating the National Zoological Park”, presented to the National Assembly by the President of Parliament, Deputy Gustavo Porras.
The bill, which was approved this Thursday with 80 votes in favor of the red and black bulldozer, is released just nine days after the Marena took over the administration of the National Zoo, which for 25 years was directed by the Friends of the Nicaraguan Zoo Foundation (Fazoonic), represented by Marina Argüello and Eduardo Sacasa. Both assured that they requested the administrative change for “health reasons”.
According to the initiative, this new management category of the zoo “It will allow investment in infrastructure, improve the quality of life, care, protection and reproduction of the fauna that is currently in the place and encourage tourism, rescue center and scientific research on the site.”.
The proposed law determines that the “National Zoological Park” be created as a decentralized entity of the Executive Power, under the sectoral stewardship of the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (Marena), with technical and administrative autonomy, its own legal status, its own assets, with full capacity to acquire rights and incur obligations in matters of its competence”, reads the document.
Among the explicit functions that the place will have, according to the initiative, include:
- Establish a conservation program “ex situ” of wild fauna species that, when carried out outside their natural habitat, must be aimed at contributing to the conservation of biodiversity.
- Promote scientific research programs that strengthen the conservation of animal species under protection.
- Carry out educational programs aimed at raising public awareness regarding the conservation of biodiversity.
Park Management and Exemptions
The direction of the new park will be determined by Marena, and whoever occupies it will have the powers of a general administration representative, indicates the bill. In addition, it establishes that the park will be exempt from paying all types of taxes contemplated in national legislation.
The National Zoo was born in 1978 as a private entity with the name of “Parque Banic“. In 1979, with the Sandinista revolution, it became part of the State, although since 1997 it was in charge of Fazoonic. They house some 400 animals, about 90 species —lions, tigers, jaguars, tapirs, boas, crocodiles, peacocks—, according to various journalistic notes.
The Foundation that administered it worked for the conservation, research and education of the fauna in Nicaragua through the zoo, the reproduction center and the rescue center, which has allowed the rehabilitation of several species, which have been reinserted into their natural habitat. .
One of the problems that Fazoonic faced was the scarce state budget for the operation of the zoo. In 2022, the budget item was 6,016,500 cordobas, despite the fact that annual operating expenses exceed 10,000,000 cordobas.
According to this new law, the park’s assets will include a budget item, movable or immovable property and financial assets that it receives under any title for the exercise of its functions, as well as transfers, assignments and donations by people or public institutions. or private.
As soon as to the services and corresponding rates provided by the Park will be established by Ministerial Agreement issued by Marena.
