Costa Rica Announces Plans to Close Zoos

Costa Rica's Ministry of Environment and Energy (MINAE) has announced plans to close the doors to the country's two zoos in the coming year.

According to El Pais, the announcement revolves around state officials' decision to not renew their contract with Fundazoo, the foundation that runs the zoos. The contract, according to the news oulet, expires May 2014.

However, Fundazoo, according to the Associated Press, claims the contract is set to last until 2024.

"We're worried about where the ministry is thinking of moving the animals since the Simon Bolivar and the Conservation Center are the only ones that have a veterinarian specialized in forest species and an animal nutritionist," Eduardo Bolanos, the organization's spokesman, told the AP.

State officials, however, said that necessary steps will be undertaken to safely relocate the animals to sites that meet certain standards, including adequate space, healthcare and safety.

As for the zoos themselves, Environment Minister Rene Castro announced that the parks will be transformed into botanical gardens or urban parks, as reported by the Global Post.

The move, the official explained, is largely out of a desire to eliminate the practice of displaying caged animals and represents "a change of environmental conscience among Costa Ricans."

In the case that a home cannot be found for all the animals, Castro said the government will take charge of them through the National System of Conservation Areas.

With more than 4 percent of all known species residing in the nation of 4.5 million people, according to Mother Nature Network, Costa Rica stands as one of the Earth's most important regions in terms of biodiversity -- a reality reflected in the country's policies. In 2002, for example, officials banned circuses with animals and has even gone so far as to bar sport hunting.