Dominican Republic’s zoo offers home for confiscated animals as seizures of exotic species soar
Summary
The only zoo in the Dominican Republic is caring for a growing number of animals seized from illegal owners. The government has increased efforts to stop people from keeping exotic animals, leading to many birds, reptiles, and other species being taken away and rehabilitated at the zoo.Key Facts
- Dominican authorities seized 188 exotic animals in 2025, up from 30 in 2023.
- So far in 2026, over 8,900 species have been confiscated, mostly small animals like crickets and fish used to feed other animals.
- The National Zoological Park in Santo Domingo houses many confiscated animals such as flamingos, crocodiles, and tigers.
- Flamingos are the most commonly rescued protected animals and are often illegally taken for decoration in hotels and private homes.
- Some people harm flamingos to keep them from flying by cutting their wings.
- Rescued flamingos at the zoo receive proper food and care to help them recover before some are released back into the wild.
- The zoo faces challenges like limited space and funding, especially because some animals need to be kept separate to avoid fights.
- The government runs educational campaigns to discourage illegal ownership of wild animals and suggests using less harmful bird species for decoration.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.
