Authorities to close the Buenos Aires City Zoo.

[forest444]

Speaking to the local business weekly Apertura, representatives from the municipal government announced that the Buenos Aires City Zoo, located in the same Palermo neighborhood location since its opening in 1875, will begin the process of shutting down as early as February.

Covering nearly 17 hectares (42 acres), the zoo is home to some 2,500 animals of 350 different species. Around 800,000 people visit annually, including thousands of children on field trips organized by metro area schools. Nevertheless its very design as an urban "Victorian zoo" has always limited its scope, and today the Buenos Aires Zoo has been eclipsed in size and popularity by others in Argentina far more spacious such as the Luján Zoo and Temaikén.

While government representatives stressed their goal of closing down the zoo as soon as possible, they also cited their concern for the thousands of animals currently living within the facility as well as the logistical difficulties of relocating them. All animals must not only be found new accommodation; but must undergo a transition period acclimating to their new surroundings.

The city government, led by right-wing Mayor Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, may yet face opposition to the move, however.

City Legislator Adrián Camps of the Authentic Socialist Party (PSA) said that the plans were “confused” and lacked precision. “The worst thing you can do is close a zoo immediately; a process should be developed with short, medium, and long-term goals. We therefore propose transforming it into an ecological garden,” Camps said, adding that the government must present its proposals for an open debate by city legislators before pushing ahead with any changes.

“If they want to start this process seriously, the best forum to debate and reach a consensus is the (city) legislature, where we are all open to dialogue,” he added.

The government announcement followed a spate of recent criticisms of the zoo advanced by animal rights groups, who criticized the living conditions and treatment of the animals in the zoo. One of the best known animals in the Buenos Aires Zoo, a 29-year-old Sumatran Orangutan named Sandra, made global headlines last year when she was granted limited inalienable rights and recognized as a “non-human person” during a court case brought forward by lawyers working for the animal rights group Association of Officials and Lawyers for Animal Rights (AFADA).

At: http://buenosairesherald.com/article/206545/authorities-to-close-buenos-aires-city-zoo
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The Buenos Aires Zoo:



And a few of its residents:

[HeiressofBickworth]

1. Looking at the top view of the zoo

the first thing that popped into my mind was "that's prime real estate". My suspicious nature then took me on a thought train that included corrupt officials, greedy developers and very rich people who would like a walled-off private garden residence. Time will tell.....

[sinkingfeeling]

2. I had the same thoughts.

[forest444]

3. Your inner Jane Marple is strong, Heiress of Bickworth.

If it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck...

And this isn't the only piece of prime real estate developers may be hungering after. Lately, there have been a series of large, mysterious fires inside the Buenos Aires Ecological Reserve - an 860 acre waterfront bird and waterfowl sanctuary adjacent to Puerto Madero (the city's newest, and most expensive, neighborhood).

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/01/buenos-aires-ecological-reserve_n_3689419.html

[HeiressofBickworth]

4. Funny you should mention Jane Marple

I resemble one of the more famous Miss Marples - Margaret Rutherford.

You didn't really think my icon was a snapshot, did you?

I've come to believe that the most evil force in the world is real estate developers. No consideration given to nature, environment, wildlife or esthetics. Nope -- just PROFIT!

[forest444]

5. She had great eyes. Like a no-nonsense old soul.

Margaret Rutherford was before my time; but as long as I live I'll never forget watching the BBC's Miss Marple series in the early '90s (starring the late, great Joan Hickson) with my mom.

Agatha Christie always denied that Miss Marple was semi-autobiographical in any way; but I'd like to think she was. Both were sharp, tenacious ladies who succeeded in proving themselves to the skeptical - even resentful - men around them, and you probably couldn't get a thing past either one of them.

She - and of course the great Auguste Dupin - is what we needed in the days after 9/11. I might add by way of pop culture trivia that if you look closely at the apartment buildings along the lower right-hand corner, that's where South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford was during his "Appalachian hike."

Let me conclude by complimenting you on your choice of avatars; Fragonard was truly one of the great French masters, and it's always good to be reminded to brush up one's art history chops every now and then. I never look too closely at anyone's avatar; but yours is probably the best I've seen so far.

Thanks again!

[HeiressofBickworth]

6. Ms. Rutherford

lived 1892 - 1972. I remember her and for me she was the ONLY Jane Marple. I'm a fan of classic movies so my image of Jane Marple was through movies. I'm always somewhat surprised at the strong women appearing in books and on screen as far back as the 1920's (even before talkies). Pre-Code (prior to 1935) movies had the additional hint of sexual intrigue which usually was only attributed to "loose women". Jane Marple, however, was not given this type of intrigue as part of her characterization.

I've always been impressed with the sheer volume of work of Agatha Christie (6 romance, 66 mystery, 14 short stories -- yes I looked it up). I confess I haven't read very many. Now that I have a Kindle, maybe I should download one to start with -- do you have a recommendation? What's your favorite?

As for the avatar, I'm impressed you know the artist. I didn't. I picked it from a selection offered by DU. It appealed to me because of its quietness and dignity (qualities to which I aspire) and because of the DU name I chose, Heiress of Bickworth, who was my 14th great grandmother. Even though they are not of the same century, I thought they would go together. I'm not the only one using it -- there is at least one more.

[forest444]

8. My favorite Agatha Christie detective is probably Hércule Poirot.

Hardly an original choice, I know. As for my favorite Poirot film/episode, that's a tough one. I'd have to say Death on the Nile, Evil Under the Sun and Appointment With Death (in no particular order).

As for Miss Marple, I really like A Mirror Crack'd, with Julia McKenzie as Jane Marple. I like her very much; she brings a touch of knowing sweetness to all her roles.

I take it your ancestor, the Heiress of Bickworth, was an aristocrat. That's fascinating; was she a historic figure in England?

On my mom's side, one of my 3rd great grandparents was related to the House of Savoy (the ruling family in Italy from unification until World WarII). She was not a historic figure in any way as far as I know.

I may be very slightly related to Pope Francis (yay!), since his father's family and many of my mom's ancestors were from the same city in Italy (Asti).

It's a small world.

[HeiressofBickworth]

10. Thanks for the recommendations

No, my ancestor wasn't a historic figure. That's what intrigues me about her. All I found was an entry somewhere that said John Bird married the Heiress of Bickworth. Not even an actual name for her, just a description. She was born sometime around 1438 in England. It seemed a pathetic indication on the value of women at that time; i.e., none except for the property she brought into the marriage. I've researched Bickworth and haven't found a place by that name. It was probably a small manor house somewhere, long destroyed by the elements and lost to history except for this woman.

I have a small connection to the House of Savoy. Adelaide Countess of Savoy (born 1092) is my 23rd great grandmother. Do you do genealogy research?

Yes, it's a small world. I recently found that Dick Cheney is descended from the witch Susanna North Martin who was hung in Salem in 1692 - somehow not surprising. I'm also descended from the same witch but the meanness gene must have expended itself before it got to me (although I have my suspicions about my mother).

Oops, hey folks, didn't mean to hijack this thread ... just having an interesting chat with a fellow DU'er.

[forest444]

11. Fascinating.

No, I've never really researched my genealogy or anyone else's; what I know is solely by word of mouth.

To paraphrase President Obama, I'm a mutt: in approximate order, part Italian, Russian, Spanish, Polish, Bulgarian, Lithuanian, and (bien sûr!) French. And we're distantly related, it seems! Pleasure to meet you.

And you're not hijacking the thread at all. We are digressing, yes; but having a lot of fun doing so if I do say so myself.

[Judi Lynn]

7. It should remain where it is for its uniqueness, its accessability to so many people,

it amazing placement, and environment. It's already in place, prepared to serve a huge city, and surroundings for ages, with proper upkeep.

Out-bleep-rageous idea, tryring to pave over it, and cut it up into apartment buildings, or huge, expensive homes. Once that move is made, it becomes ordinary, drab, bland, boring, and important only to the people who live there. Oh, yeah, and to the city officials who made a financial killing for themselves in arranging the murder of a fantastic historic landmark, and delight to generations, and turning it into a flophouse for the well-heeled.

[forest444]

9. You know, that's just what we were discussing.

Her first impression was that the zoo's closure was being pushed behind the scenes by developers coveting those 42 (very valuable) acres for development.

Given the current mayor's ideological affinity for private interests, and the fact that real estate development is among the Macri family's core businesses, I wouldn't be surprised.

From what I gather, Judi, the very idea of shuttering the zoo is meeting with very strong political headwinds. Mayor Rodríguez Larreta will quietly drop this if he knows what's good for him.

He's a little more moderate than Macri, so I trust he will. Will let you know!