YEREVAN, JANUARY 20, ARMENPRESS.  Ministry of Nature Protection of Armenia will set a special working group which will engage in the activities of organizing the exportation of not free or partially free wild animals. A meeting was held at the Ministry of Nature Protection on January 20, attended by the members of “Save the animals of Gyumri zoo” initiative and Deputy Minister of Nature Protection Khachik Hakobyan. During the meeting the sides discussed the problems of privately owned zoo of Gyumri, the condition of the animals and the opportunities to transport them to other countries.  Spokesperson for the Armenian Ministry of Nature Protection Tehmina Arzumanyan told “Armenpress” about this. “As you may know there is an issue of taking the two bears and lions of Gyumri zoo to a safer place. The Foundation for the Preservation of Wildlife and Cultural Assets applied to the Ministry of Nature Protection in order to get permission for taking the bears to Romania. The permission has already been given, and soon the bears will be transported to Romania”, she said.

Tehmina Arzumanyan noted that both the Ministry of Nature Protection and “Save the animals of Gyumri zoo” initiative have launched negotiations with partner organizations of different countries (Russian Federation, Georgia) aimed to solving the problem. “That working group must engage not only in solving the problems of the mentioned animals, but also in the elaboration of legislative initiatives regulating that sphere”, she added.

“Armenpress” had touched upon the problems of Gyumri zoo back in October, 2015. The British Daily mail also referred to the issue in an article published on January 19.