The conference of Eurasian Regional Association of Zoos and Aquariums – EARAZA – was held in Moscow from June 3rd till June 8th of 2019.

EARAZA’s closed session was held on the 5th of June 2019.

68 actual EARAZA members, 7 associated members and 10 candidates had the right to participate.

Various issues of the Association’s work were discussed during the closed session.

The conflict between the Zoo “Priamursky” and Primorye Safari Park concerning the tiger Amur was discussed at the end of the session.

June 4th 2019 the director’s article “APPEAL TO THE EARAZA CONFERENCE CONCERNING TIGER AMUR” was published on Primorye Safari Park’s website http://safaripark25.ru/news/an_appeal_to_the_earaza_conference_concerning_the_tiger_amur

June 5th 2019 Valentina Bassargina published a petition “To dismiss Dolin A.V. and Frolov V.E. from their positions” on the website https://www.change.org/, addressed to EARAZA and the authorities of Khabarovsk Krai.

The appeal to EARAZA from Dmitry Mezentsev and the petition of Valentina Bassargina provoked an emotional reaction on the day of the session.

The first one was Svetlana Malysheva, director of the Udmurtia Zoo, who announced that she’d like to revoke her recommendation for Primorye Safari Park to join the EARAZA. The Novosibirsk Zoo offered to exclude Primorye Safari Park from EARAZA and to vote on the issue. Vladimir Gerasichkin, director of the Nizhny Novgorod private zoo Limpopo, announced that this situation put private zoos in a bad light and that he wanted nothing to do with it. The director of Gelendzhik Safari Park tried to find a solution in a calm and friendly way. The director of some other zoo wanted all the information concerning the tiger Amur to be removed from the Primorye Safari Park website and this horrible story to be forgotten. Vladimir Topchiy, director of the Nikolaev Zoo, urged his emotional collegues to summon a commission that would deal with the situation. He was adamant that such issues can not be resolved by voting.

However the voting did take place. It was decided to summon a commission. Common sense prevailed.

The main issue is to resolve the situation within EARAZA without the involvement of mass media.

But I’ve already tried to resolve the situation within EARAZA and went to Moscow for that reason. Tatiana Vershinina really tried to help: she called me, Alla Glukhova and Andrey Dolin. But her attempts were futile. Andey Dolin’s and Alla Glukhova’s answers were adamant: the tiger Amur will be transported to NP “Tiger Park” in Krasnodarsky Krai. There is no other lawful outcome.

Thus, it wasn’t possible to resolve the situation within EARAZA.

- The involvement of mass media is not allowed. It means that we approve the tiger Amur’s exclusion from the EARAZA Program, it means that we approve selling him to some rich man.

ALL OF IT IS KEPT IN THE DARK!

- The involvement of mass media is not allowed. End of story!

I ask my collegues: Investigate the situation concerning the unlawful transfer of the tiger to a nonexistent zoo.

THEY WON’T INVESTIGATE!  They don’t even think of it!

The Ethics Code of EARAZA members has an article 3.3.:

«3.3. Transfer of animals.

The members of the association must be sure that the organizations where the animals are being transferred have all the conditions necessary for their comfort, as well as qualified personnel able to care for the animals in accordance with the full set of requirements for zoos - members of the EARAZA ...

Association members do not have the right to: - transfer animals to individuals or organizations that have not provided evidence that could indicate the presence of conditions or professional experience necessary for the maintenance and reproduction - this condition applies mainly to large predators (cougars and larger mammals)».

BUT IT’S NOT WORTH THEIR NOTICE!

Andrey Dolin did not participate in the conference. Right before the conference he had a heart attack! Nikita Pikalev, journalist from “Amur Media”, informed me about it. Andrey Dolin becomes conveniently sick when things get tricky.

His attentive collegues are obliged to feel sorry for him and how the tiger Amur’s fans give him a coronary. Dolin’s fake illness is his way to stay away from due penalty.

Brief summary of the closed session of EARAZA: Colleagues did not censure Andrey Dolin for his scam with transfer of the tiger Amur to a nonexistent zoo. The executive director of EARAZA, Vladimir Frolov, was not censured for supporting Dolin. They censured Dmitry Mezentsev for resolving this issue through media, which resulted in the insultig of the respected professionals.

No wonder that after the closed session of EARAZA, I wrote a letter about the Primorsky Safari Park’s disaffiliation from EARAZA, since corporate solidarity in this public organization is above the interests of animals and above common sense. It is impossible to be in EARAZA with such an attitude. (Link to the letter about the Primorsky Safari Park’s disaffiliation from EARAZA dated 05.06.2019)

But the Primorsky Safari Park does not leave the EARAZA’s Amur Tiger Program and other programs for the conservation and reproduction of rare animals.

I have always treated and will treat with great respect the President of the EARAZA, Vladimir Spitsin and Tatiana Vershinina, regardless of their attitude towards me. They have contributed to my achievments. I took into account their advice and recommendations.

I have a lot to do in the Primorsky Safari Park, and I do not follow what is happening in other zoos - there is no time for that. Similarly, the directors of other zoos are busy primarily with their own affairs. They did not monitor the conflict around the tiger Amur. There is no reason to blame them for the lack of accurate information on this issue.

But there is every reason to blame the executive director of EARAZA, Vladimir Frolov. Being up to date with everything that is happening is his work and responsibility.

Finally, information on the tigress Taiga: Currently, the necessary documents are being prepared at the Ministry of Property of Primorsky Krai. The tigress Taiga will live in the Primorsky Safari Park. She will remain in the program. EARAZA will give a recommendation after completing the necessary documents. No need to write letters in EARAZA. Just have to wait.

Dmitry Mezentsev, director of Primorsky Safari Park

Letter about the Primorsky Safari Park’s disaffiliation from EARAZA dated 05.06.2019

Attachment 1. Answers The Procuratorate By Transfer Tigger Amur In Dinsku 29.03.19

Attachment 2. Reply From Dinskoy Prosecutor’s Office

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