Dear Editor,
After seeing quite a few people sharing a very attractive poster and news media informing the public of the reopening of the Guyana Zoological Park and Wildlife Rescue Centre, out of curiosity, I decided that I would visit the very first/opening day to see changes.
Filled with excitement, my friend and I went. Whilst purchasing the tickets around 10:42 am on Monday 04th April 2022, I enquired if the canteen is open, only to get a negative reply. Upon entering the area where the animals are housed, I was greeted with the horrible sight of poorly kept cages, a disgusting stench in certain areas, and one young man washing the lion’s head that has a water tap to be repainted. Workers were building a shed for visitors, puddles of water were around, and some walking areas around the cages are under water. A dismal-looking building that was supposedly the holding area for the aquariums, a dilapidated-looking building in the petting area, a non-functional building that used to be for visiting students, and the list goes on.
Editor, when the pandemic hit Guyana, quite a few places closed their doors to the public, and the workforce got regulated. The Guyana Zoological Park and Wildlife Rescue Centre was one of the places, and remained closed to the public until Monday. It amazes me to see the condition of that place, and the animals there. Were people working there, were they being paid and if so, what were they being paid to do? All the buildings and cages deteriorate, and the area also. One would have expected a wide variety of changes to attract visitors, but to my opinion, it’s the opposite, and much worse that when it was forced to closed its doors to the public. My concern is, what was management doing all the time? If they cannot manage the facility properly, then put a new team. It’s sad to know that because of the oil, Guyana is attracting visitors, and the Guyana Zoological Park and Wildlife Rescue Centre is an embarrassment to Guyanese. Someone kindly fix it!
Yours faithfully,
Sahadeo Bates
