Abandoned animals have been found in a zoo in southern Spain months after it was closed, campaigners have claimed.
Two bears, a tiger, four baboons, fallow deer and a series of other animals were reportedly found at the Prudencio Navarro Zoo in the town of Ayamonte.
The zoo has been closed to the public for two months.
Campaigners from Proyecto Gran Simio (Great Ape Project) an animal rights charity, released videos of the empty zoo and condemned the conditions the animals were living in.
The videos and pictures appear to show the animals in enclosures with dirty windows and stagnant water.
“The authorities are responsible for these situations that are occurring in many zoos and private centres, which are being closed or abandoned and where animals are left half abandoned,” Pedro Pozas Terrados, the charity’s executive director, said in a statement
The charity urged the city council to act “before some of the animals die or there is a serious accident or escape due to lack of security.”
Staff at the organisation have also filed a police report with Seprona, the police department responsible for nature protection over “possible mistreatment” of the animals.
The department has opened an investigation into the case, according to Huelvahoy.
A petition denouncing the situation has gathered more than 1,600 signatures.
