safari park zoo fier

Sick Lion Spent Years Trapped In Tiny Cage At ‘Worst’ Zoo

“it was like a concrete prison" 💔.

Martin Bauer will never forget the smell when he and a team of rescuers entered Safari Park Zoo, a run-down facility in Fier, Albania, that has been called “ Europe’s worst zoo .”

“There were feces and trash everywhere, and it was super smelly,” Bauer, head of PR at Four Paws International , told The Dodo. “I didn’t expect that. It smelled like feces and rotten things.”

The stench was only the start of it. When Bauer and the team ventured further into the zoo, they found dozens of frightened animals living in derelict enclosures .

“It was like a concrete prison ,” Bauer said. “I’ve never seen something like this before. Every animal has the littlest space possible. They can move around a little bit, but not well. Everything was dirty as well.”

One of the most upsetting things for Bauer was coming across a lion with a bad eye infection.

“He was just in this really tiny, dark room,” Bauer said. “It wasn’t even an open air kind of thing. It was literally a dark room with a heavy metal door, and he was just lying there on concrete. He looked like he gave up. He was like breathing and everything, but … he was just numb. Lions are beautiful creatures and I’ve seen them in the wild … so it’s really disgusting to see them in these tiny enclosures.”

But last week, life changed for the better for the animals stuck at Safari Park Zoo.

The zoo had run on a valid license for many years, Bauer explained. But this year, the zoo’s license expired, and the Albanian government refused to renew it, citing the small, inadequate enclosures as the reason for this refusal.

Working closely with the Albanian government, Four Paws gained the authority to rescue 12 of the resident animals at the zoo, including a bear, fox, turtle, zebra, waterbuck and red deer, as well as three fallow deer and three lions.

“We arrived at the scene, and it was agreed that the police would go first,” Bauer said. “The police broke through the gate forcefully and let us in, which was really nice of them.”

Unfortunately, the rescue team wasn’t able to locate the turtle, who wasn’t in his enclosure as expected. The team also didn’t have the authority to rescue several domestic animals, including dogs, chickens, goats and sheep, although Bauer said that Four Paws is still hoping to rescue them in the near future.

The rescue team, which included several veterinarians, worked diligently to get the 11 animals safely out of the zoo and move them to a temporary holding facility at Tirana Zoo in Tirana, Albania. The zebra tragically didn’t make it, but the other animals are doing really well, Bauer said.

“It’s very rewarding when you see them go into enclosures, and you know this horror is finally over for them, and now the new journey begins for them,” Bauer said.

“Obviously, Tirana Zoo is not the ideal place for these rescued animals, but it was the safest option,” Bauer added. “We’re all very grateful to Tirana Zoo, because without their help, we wouldn’t be able to rescue them. As soon as they’re fit enough and healthy enough, we will bring them to better and more suitable locations.”

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Rescued from “Europe’s worst zoo”

Bobby was together with the lions Zhaku and Lenci , rescued from Safari Park Zoo Fier in Albania by FOUR PAWS. This zoo was known as “Europe’s worst zoo”. His battered nose is a sad reminder of his difficult life in Albania. Since May 9th, 2019 he lives at the FELIDA Big Cat Sanctuary.

Note: Any advertisements that may appear during the viewing of this video are unrelated to FOUR PAWS. We assume no liability for this content.

Liberated from concrete

In October 2018, a FOUR PAWS rescue team managed to rescue the three lions, as well as the other wildlife from Safari Park Zoo Fier. Bobby had lived on a concrete floor in a small cage for years. There was no protection from wind, rain or sunlight. After the rescue, the lions were transferred to a temporary residence in the Albanian capital, Tirana, until the Albanian ministry authorised transport to the Netherlands. Unfortunately, the ministry initially did not cooperate, and bureaucratic arbitrariness hindered the movement of the three lions. FOUR PAWS launched an online petition signed by nearly 70,000 supporters. With success: the lions got the green light. After a journey of 52 hours and almost 3,000 kilometres through ten countries, they were finally home.

After the rescue, the care begins

Sometimes we say that the work really starts after the rescue. Bobby, Zhaku and Lenci were all in very bad shape. So bad, unfortunately, that help came too late for lion Zhaku: he died two months after arriving at FELIDA. Bobby didn't have an easy time either. He suffered from teeth problems and a severe urinary tract infection. Although we could help him with both problems after his arrival at FELIDA, it took him a long time to completely recover from this. In addition to that, he suffers from chronic kidney disease . No recovery is possible for this, but we support him with medication to provide him with the best life possible.

Peace at last

Bobby's favourite hobby is to lie down and rest, relax and sleep in his hammock. He is not a playful or active lion. After his morning routine - in which he examines his enclosure, marks his territory and roars in the ‘lion choir’ - he jumps into his hammock where he prefers to lie around all day. Enrichment is simply not his thing. On the other hand, he really likes the positive reinforcement training with his caregivers. He is very intelligent and eager to learn. But otherwise he is most of all just very lazy. For years, Bobby lived on a concrete floor, but now he has finally found peace.

Update March 2024: A special friendship

A couple of weeks ago, we moved lion Simba next to the enclosure of lion Bobby. They have formed an unexpected bond that has taken everyone by surprise! Bobby and Simba have found companionship and comfort in each other's presence. We are so happy to see both lions flourish from this contact. Friendship knows no bounds, even in the animal kingdom.

Will you adopt Bobby?

Update 2023: Vulnerable health

In the beginning of June 2023 we discovered that Bobby was not feeling quite well. We know from his past that his bladder wall has been affected by the chronic bladder infections he had before he arrived at FELIDA. We are currently supporting him with supplements to protect his bladder wall and we check his urine regularly. The result has shown that there are traces of blood and white blood cells in his urine which can indicate that there is an infection. Therefore, we have decided to schedule a medical check to find out exactly what is going on and make a new treatment plan for him. Wildlife veterinarian Mandana Pötsch from Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research came to FELIDA to examine his bladder and kidneys and take samples of his blood and urine. We already know from previous medical checks that Bobby suffers from a further developed stage of chronic kidney disease and we will keep supporting him with medication. 

The last lab results of Bobby’s medical check show no significant deteriorating of his health. The wildlife veterinarians did detect a mass on his liver, but his blood samples show no changes in his liver function values or immune system. Which means that Bobby’s liver function is still stable. He also does not seem to have any symptoms at the moment.

To find out what the mass is, Bobby would need surgery and biopsies would need to be taken for pathology. However, since the 13-year-old lion does not seem to be bothered by the symptoms, we want to avoid any stressful and invasive procedures to prevent further deterioration of his chronic kidney disease. For now, we will focus on his well-being, support him with supplements and medication and treat his symptoms when they occur. 

Update 2022: A year full of adventure

Bobby was over the moon with his new neighbor: lioness Elza . This interest is mutual. In the beginning Elza was still a bit suspicious towards him and when she indicated that she needed more space, he gave her this like a real gentleman! But now she shows more and more interest in Bobby. We are therefore rotating their enclosures so they can discover each other's territory. 

In October 2022, it was exactly 4 years ago that FOUR PAWS rescued and evacuated our beloved lion Bobby, together with 10 other neglected wild animals from Safari Park Zoo in Fier in Albania, known also as “Europe’s worst zoo”. He suffered from a severe urinary tract infection and was in a lot of pain. The lion had to come a long way. Thanks to our intensive special care, Bobby now enjoys life to the fullest every single day. He does not have to be stressed or anxious anymore. We are so happy to see him feeling well, relaxed and at home at FELIDA. 

To ensure that every animal receives the best possible care in the winter, we have relocated animals within FELIDA in December 2022. Bobby, together with his neigbour Elza, moved to the large enclosure of Tsezar and vice versa. We have adapted the enclosures to their own special needs and made sure that they all have heated indoor enclosures to keep them comfortable during the cold nights. The move went very smoothly and efficiently. Bobby of course immediately tested his new hammock, but he also wanted to make sure that his old neigbour Elza was still next to him.

FACTS ABOUT BOBBY

• Born in Albania in 2010
• Can be recognised by his battered nose and wild manes
• Has developed a special friendship with lion Simba
• Not playful with enrichment, but loves special 'blood popsicles'
• Prefers to nap in his hammock all day

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Rescued lions continue to suffer in Albania because of bureaucratic arbitrariness

FOUR PAWS calls for protest against Albanian authorities

International animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS fights to retrieve three lions from unsuitable conditions in Albania. Lions Lenci, Bobby and Zhaku were rescued from the neglected Safari Park Zoo Fier and temporarily accommodated in Tirana Zoo in October 2018. Now the Albanian authorities block the departure of the lions to a specialiced FOUR PAWS facility in the Netherlands, citing an ongoing lawsuit for damage to property initiated by the former owner of the animals. However, the lions play no part in the lawsuit and FOUR PAWS had been allowed to transfer a bear, rescued during the same mission and also temporarily placed at Tirana Zoo, to Germany at the beginning of April. FOUR PAWS is now calling for a protest against those responsible in the Albanian government.

FOUR PAWS tirelessly campaigns for the departure of the lions, originally rescued from “Europe’s worst zoo”. It was agreed with the Albanian Ministry of Environment and Tourism that the animals would be transferred to the FOUR PAWS Big Cat Centre FELIDA in the Netherlands. There, the three lions can receive the medical care and attention they urgently need. However, the Albanian government thwarted this plan. “It is inexplicable to us why we cannot relocate Lenci, Bobby and Zhaku. The Albanian authorities cite a court case as the reason, but we know that the lions are not subject of this case. The animals have nothing to do with it. Otherwise we wouldn't have been able to bring bear Dushi, who we also temporarily accommodated at Tirana Zoo, to our bear sanctuary in Germany,” says Ioana Dungler, Director of the Wild Animals Department at FOUR PAWS and responsible for rescuing the animals from the Safari Park Zoo last year.

Tirana Zoo only as a stopover

FOUR PAWS rescued a total of ten wild animals from Safari Park Zoo last October. Most of the animals were brought to the Tirana Zoo. There, veterinarians took care of the medical first aid. The three lions and the three-legged bear, Dushi, would stay in Tirana until all formalities for a further journey to FOUR PAWS’ sanctuaries were clarified. On 3rd April the bear was allowed to leave for Germany. “Although we are grateful for the support of Tirana Zoo, the enclosures are not ideal for an extended stay for the lions. They are way too small and only have concrete floors. The animals have no possibility to go outside and they are locked up in a confined space all day. We are seriously concerned that the lions will develop severe behavioural problems,” explains Dungler. 

Protest against the Albanian government

All negotiations to date with the Albanian authorities have not yet led to a concrete outcome. Again and again the departure date had to be postponed. The last information was that the animals might be allowed to move to the Netherlands in September. This is clearly too late for FOUR PAWS, which is why they are now calling for a protest against the authorities. “Our patience has come to an end. Only because of bureaucratic arbitrariness the lions have to suffer further in Albania, while we can offer them a species-appropriate life now. We expect the Albanian government to be a reliable partner and we hope they will respect their commitments made for these animals,” says Dungler.

Safari Park Zoo in Fier: "Europe's worst zoo”

The three lions already have a hard past behind them, growing up in the infamous Safari Park Zoo in Albania. FOUR PAWS investigated the zoo several times since December 2015. Due to legal regulations, an intervention was not possible for a long time. Photos from inside the Albanian zoo appeared in mid-October 2018 and led to outrage around the globe. The photos showed the terrible keeping conditions of the animals. International media called the Safari Park Zoo “Europe's worst zoo” and “Zoo from hell”. The Albanian Ministry of Environment and Tourism decided to confiscate all wild animals. FOUR PAWS supported the authorities and agreed to accommodate the lions and bears in its own sanctuaries.

Hannah Baker

[email protected] 

020 7922 7954 / 07966 032 235

7 - 14 Great Dover Street, London, SE1 4YR

FOUR PAWS UK

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Inside the horrifying Albanian ‘zoo from hell’ where emaciated animals with festering wounds are crammed inside filthy poo-riddled cages

Lions, zebras and wolves can all be seen trapped in tiny cages covered in poo in the allegedly illegal Safari Park Zoo in Fier, Albania

• Guy Birchall
• Published : 13:02, 16 Oct 2018
• Updated : 14:59, 16 Oct 2018
• Published : Invalid Date,

THESE distressing images show the heart-breaking conditions animals at an Albanian safari park have been left in.

Authorities in the country are being urged to act after new photos appeared to expose the depressing reality of a zoo labelled the “safari park from hell”.

Pictures taken at the allegedly illegal Safari Park Zoo in Fier, Albania, show a “severely malnourished” lion living in cramped conditions and apparently suffering from an eye injury.

The shocking images have come to light after a photographer exposed conditions there.

The photographer, who The Sun is not naming, said: "All the animals are kept in tiny, unhygienic concrete cages with no possibility to retreat from the elements or from the prying eyes of visitors to the zoo.

"The animals suffer from a range of physical and psychological issues caused by the miserable conditions, improper veterinary care and lack of an appropriate diet.

"I’ve been documenting human/animal conflict globally for nearly a decade.

"My current focus is on wildlife tourism.

"It's thought that over half a million animals are suffering for the industry, however not enough is known about the abuses that are going on - in front of our eyes and behind closed doors.

"The camera is a potent weapon for getting these issues into the public domain."

The snapper said there are several different animals at the privately-owned Safari Park Zoo, which is attached to a bar and restaurant, including three adult lions thought to have been there since they were cubs.

His images show what appear to be 'suffering' lions languishing in desolate, dirty concrete cages surrounded by their own waste and without even the most basic provisions such as fresh water and shade.

The photographer claimed vets who have visited the macabre facility described what they were greeted with as "some of the worst animal welfare conditions they have ever seen".

It is understood they were among around 14 lion cubs born at the zoo. The rest are thought to have died, been sold or simply been given away to friends of the owner.

Other animals include a zebra, several deer, monkeys, a bear and a malnourished wolf can be seen suffering quietly in tiny cages.

Animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS has been active in Albania in recent years, primarily working alongside the Albanian Ministry of Environment and other NGOs in the area.

When asked about the latest photos of conditions at the zoo, Ioana Dungler, who heads up the charity’s Wild Animals Department, confirmed FOUR PAWS was aware of the situation and would be keen to work with the Albanian authorities to intervene before it’s too late.

Ioana said: “The situation at the Safari Park Zoo in Fier is clearly absolutely unacceptable for the animals remaining there.

"The conditions do not even come close to being appropriate, particularly for large wild animals like lions and bears which have very specific environmental and dietary needs.

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"Signs of the mental and physical impact of being kept in such abject surroundings can be clearly seen on each of the poor animals at the zoo.

"FOUR PAWS has rescued animals from many similar zoos in the past and animals from all over the world that once seemed just as hopeless now thrive in our sanctuaries.

"We hope that with the support of the Albanian Ministry of Environment and Tourism, we can one day achieve the same for the poor animals in Fier."

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From Interstate 5 (Los Angeles and Orange County), take the Pershing Drive exit and follow the signs. From Interstate 15 (Escondido and Riverside), take State Route 163 south to the Park Blvd./I-5 South exit. Exit at Park Blvd. Turn left on Park Blvd. and head north; Zoo parking entrance is off Park Blvd. at Zoo Place.

From Interstate 5 (Mexico), take the State Route 163 north exit, then the Zoo/Museums (Richmond Street) exit and follow the signs to the Zoo parking lot.

From State Route 94, proceed into downtown San Diego to 11th Avenue. Turn right on 11th Avenue and proceed north to A Street. Turn right on A Street, and then make a quick left onto Park Blvd. and head north; Zoo parking entrance is off Park Blvd. at Zoo Place.

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Safari Park

15500 San Pasqual Valley Road, Escondido, California 92027-7017

The Safari Park is the San Diego Zoo’s sister park to the northeast in Escondido. Distance between the San Diego Zoo and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park is 35 miles. Please allow 45 minutes to 1 hour travel time.

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Safari Park Zoo is shut down in Fier, Albania 

#NoMoreFierZoo – FOUR PAWS evacuates wild animals from 'Europe's worst zoo'

For safety reasons, the owner of the Safari Park Zoo was not warned in advance that the wild animals would be confiscated. An international team of veterinarians as well as a special unit of the Albanian police supervised the rescue mission. In a dramatic moment, the police broke the entrance gate to give the rescue team of almost twenty people access to the zoo.

"What we saw was shocking... dirty little concrete enclosures with dejected animals inside. The animals are all in bad condition."

Dr. marc gölkel, izw berlin veterinarian.

First stop: Tirana Zoo

The top priority was to get the animals to a safe place as quickly as possible. FOUR PAWS temporarily transferred the three lions, the three-legged bear, the zebra, fox, waterbuck, red deer and the three fallow deer to the zoo in Tirana where new enclosures for the rescued animals were waiting. Originally, twelve wild animals were on the FOUR PAWS rescue list – but the tortoise was untraceable. As soon as the animals have recovered, we will transfer them to sanctuaries appropriate to their species.

"We're glad that we got these animals out of this rundown prison. A big thank you goes to the Albanian government that made this mission possible."

Ioana dungler, director of the four paws wild animals department, zebra dies after transfer.

As part of routine procedure, the team of veterinarians sedated the zebra and loaded him onto a horse trailer for transportation. During the trip he was fully conscious, however the zebra died unexpectedly shortly after being released into an enclosure at Tirana Zoo. There is always a residual risk when using anaesthesia – especially if the animal has been kept in poor conditions. Sedation and the two-hour transfer were obviously too much for the weakened zebra. We are all devastated that we were unable to give more help to this poor animal.

FOUR PAWS detected the Safari Park Zoo Fier in Albania years ago and we have investigated this private zoo several times already. Here, a number of wild and domesticated animals are kept in terrible conditions. While FOUR PAWS and other animal welfare activists documented the apalling situation of these animals several times, it was clear that nothing could be done. In this case, human kindness was overruled by legislation. 

We were forced to wait on the sidelines, monitor the situation and wait for an opportunity to step in. And now, at last, a ray of hope has appeared on the horizon: the horrific Fier Zoo may be shut down. Finally, a better future for the animals seems within reach!

"Signs of the mental and physical impact of being kept in such abject surroundings are clearly shown by each of the poor animals in the zoo. If something is not done soon, these animals will continue to suffer and most likely die in these unspeakable conditions."

Ray of hope.

We are working hard to prepare whatever is needed to make this option a reality. It is a complex and risky case, and we are doing everything we can to bring the animals to safety as soon as possible. We need your support and will keep you posted here and on Facebook.

Urgent need to act

Fast action is needed, as changes to legislation and the facility's obviously dire economic situation (no visitors) could result in the animals being sold or even killed! The Albanian Ministry of Tourism and Environment is aware of the situation at the zoo and has expressed its willingness to provide support, but FOUR PAWS must deliver a solution for the animals. While waiting for a green light to act, we are preparing everything required for the rescue mission.

Safari Park has plans to protect animals in a wildfire

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What do you do with 3,400 animals, birds and reptiles in a wildfire?

At the San Diego Zoo Safari Park north of Escondido, you leave them right where they are.

Officials with the world-famous animal reserve that covers 1,800 acres in the San Pasqual Valley say they have developed detailed plans to protect the park’s denizens.

And those plans do not include evacuating the animals to another site. Instead, animals are sheltered in place or put in cages and moved to safer environs on the property.

The emergency response has been rehearsed many times over the years, often in conjunction with area fire agencies, zoo officials say.

Most recently, on July 27, when a brush fire raced up a steep hill in the San Pasqual Valley, park workers were ready.

Although the fire was several miles to the east and unlikely to threaten the park, the fire plans were set in motion in case things changed.

“We have developed extensive plans based on available information as well as our own direct experiences,” said Michael Mace, the San Diego Zoo Global’s director of animal collection and strategy. “Every fire has been unique with its own characteristics. We continue to build on those plans based on those experiences.”

Three times over the 45 years of the park’s existence, fires have burned onto the park’s property: in 1993, 2003 and 2007.

The most serious was the 2007 Witch Creek fire, which burned about 800 acres of the park’s property, most of it outside of the fence and animal enclosures, but including part of the Condor Ridge exhibit.

Above all else, Mace said, human life comes first. Saving the roughly 3,400 animals, birds and reptiles in the park’s collection is secondary to that, but hardly ignored.

The park works closely with first responders and fire officials and takes its cues from them. If they are warned of a fire threat, the park is evacuated of all guests with law enforcement directing which way they should leave and how quickly visitors should exit.

As for the critters, various things are done to protect them. The large African Plain enclosure where trams filled with guests get up-close views of giraffes, zebras and antelopes is left undisturbed.

“Those facilities have never been affected,” Mace said. “A lot of our animals reside in those and they have been unharmed in every incident.”

“Fire could even come down to that fenceline, but there is no fuel,” said San Diego Zoo Global public relations manager Christina Simmons. “They are big enough enclosures that what we’ve seen is the animals just go to the other side.”

“We have various plans on which animals we’re going to move and which we’re not going to move based on a number of factors: how far the fire is from the property, the wind direction, the facilities vulnerability.,” said Mace.

Other animals, however, are protected differently. For the gorillas, for instance, a “harbor in place” strategy is employed.

“They are brought into areas where they are comfortable, in this case their bedrooms, and then we have systems that seal the exterior of the building,” Mace said. Then an air purification system kicks in to keep smoke out.

“They are safe in very familiar surroundings,” he said.

The zoo also has various strategies that could include placing some animals like cheetahs and sloths into travel cages and then taking them to a safe building within the park. Park officials don’t want to say exactly where the animals would be kept out of fear that someone, during a fire emergency, might want to steal or harm them.

Simmons said just last year a poacher killed a white rhinoceros for its horn at a zoo outside Paris.

In 2007, part of the Condor Ridge exhibit burned in the northern part of the park during the Witch Creek fire, which had started the day before near Santa Ysabel.

“We had evacuated the condors about 12 hours before it burned that night,” Mace said. “It was a great example of being able to anticipate a situation and work proactively before an incident occurred.”

The condors were safe but one bird and a donkey died, not directly from exposure to smoke or fire.

“We ended up with more animals after the fire then when it began because animals were still giving birth or hatching,” Mace said.

Just this past spring, Safari Park hosted a large fire preparedness summit that brought together zoo and aquarium officials from all over the state to share experiences and strategies. Fire officials from Cal Fire, San Diego fire, Escondido fire and police and the California Highway Patrol attended and gave presentations.

‘We’re so grateful for the first responders because they are running toward crisis while we’re managing crisis elsewhere,” Mace said.

The big takeaways from the summit included the need for each zoo to establish good relations with fire authorities and the need to take officials on tours of the properties so they are familiar with what they could be dealing with in the future.

They determined that an evacuation plan is crucial: knowing how to get on and off the grounds and what the routes will be. It’s also important to have equipment that will allow for continual communication with staff and first responder agencies.

“Preserve human life, stabilize the situation, protect the animals, property and environment are some of those key messages,” Mace said.

Officials said there has never been a time when the park considered releasing animals into the wild.

“I’m not saying it hasn’t been discussed,” Mace said, “but we’ve been fortunate to manage situations where we have been able to care for everything during these situations.”

[email protected]; 760/529-4931; Twitter: @jharryjones

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Safari Park Zoo is shut down in Fier, Albania 

#NoMoreFierZoo – FOUR PAWS evacuates wild animals from 'Europe's worst zoo'

Update 28.10.2018: We have evacuated eleven neglected wild animals from the Safari Park Zoo in Fier in cooperation with the Albanian Ministry of Tourism and Environment

For safety reasons, the owner of the Safari Park Zoo was not warned in advance that the wild animals would be confiscated. An international team of veterinarians as well as a special unit of the Albanian police supervised the rescue mission. In a dramatic moment, the police broke the entrance gate to give the rescue team of almost twenty people access to the zoo.

"What we saw was shocking... dirty little concrete enclosures with dejected animals inside. The animals are all in bad condition."

Dr. marc gölkel, izw berlin veterinarian.

First stop: Tirana Zoo

The top priority was to get the animals to a safe place as quickly as possible. FOUR PAWS temporarily transferred the three lions, the three-legged bear, the zebra, fox, waterbuck, red deer and the three fallow deer to the zoo in Tirana where new enclosures for the rescued animals were waiting. Originally, twelve wild animals were on the FOUR PAWS rescue list – but the tortoise was untraceable. As soon as the animals have recovered, we will transfer them to sanctuaries appropriate to their species.

"We're glad that we got these animals out of this rundown prison. A big thank you goes to the Albanian government that made this mission possible."

Ioana dungler, director of the four paws wild animals department, zebra dies after transfer.

As part of routine procedure, the team of veterinarians sedated the zebra and loaded him onto a horse trailer for transportation. During the trip he was fully conscious, however the zebra died unexpectedly shortly after being released into an enclosure at Tirana Zoo. There is always a residual risk when using anaesthesia – especially if the animal has been kept in poor conditions. Sedation and the two-hour transfer were obviously too much for the weakened zebra. We are all devastated that we were unable to give more help to this poor animal.

FOUR PAWS detected the Safari Park Zoo Fier in Albania years ago and we have investigated this private zoo several times already. Here, a number of wild and domesticated animals are kept in terrible conditions. While FOUR PAWS and other animal welfare activists documented the apalling situation of these animals several times, it was clear that nothing could be done. In this case, human kindness was overruled by legislation. 

We were forced to wait on the sidelines, monitor the situation and wait for an opportunity to step in. And now, at last, a ray of hope has appeared on the horizon: the horrific Fier Zoo may be shut down. Finally, a better future for the animals seems within reach!

"Signs of the mental and physical impact of being kept in such abject surroundings are clearly shown by each of the poor animals in the zoo. If something is not done soon, these animals will continue to suffer and most likely die in these unspeakable conditions."

Ray of hope.

We are working hard to prepare whatever is needed to make this option a reality. It is a complex and risky case, and we are doing everything we can to bring the animals to safety as soon as possible. We need your support and will keep you posted here and on Facebook.

Urgent need to act

Fast action is needed, as changes to legislation and the facility's obviously dire economic situation (no visitors) could result in the animals being sold or even killed! The Albanian Ministry of Tourism and Environment is aware of the situation at the zoo and has expressed its willingness to provide support, but FOUR PAWS must deliver a solution for the animals. While waiting for a green light to act, we are preparing everything required for the rescue mission.

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Habitat Maintenance

The jaguar and red panda habitats are undergoing renovations that include replacing poles that are supporting the netting surrounding the habitats. For their safety and comfort, both the jaguar and red pandas have been moved to behind-the-scenes enclosures for the duration of the maintenance. The project is currently expected to go until mid-April or May. Follow Happy Hollow's Social Media for updates.

Senior Safari Pre-Registration

Skip the lines at Senior Safari! Stop by the Happy Hollow Entry Plaza from Monday, April 29 through Friday, May 3, between 10 a.m. and noon for pre-registration and a special giveaway. Visitors 50+ who pre-register during these times can enjoy free same-day parking and admission. Get ready to celebrate Senior Safari's 10th anniversary together— save the date for our Senior Safari Kick-Off on Thursday, May 23!

Paint Nights for Teens & Adults

Join us for this after-hours animal art class! Food, mock-tails, music & instruction while you sketch & paint a portrait of the star animal of the night. Adult Paint Night will take place on Friday, April 19 and Teen Paint Night will take place on Friday, May 3.

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Happy Hollow Foundation is a non-profit organization, established in 1958 and dedicated to advocating, supporting and enhancing Happy Hollow Park & Zoo.

2023 Annual Report

Happy Hollow Foundation's annual report celebrates another year of partnership with Happy Hollow Park & Zoo! Please enjoy reading all the ways our community of donors supports our shared mission of promoting conservation, education and play.

Happy Hollow Blog

March 6, 2024, the difference a quarter can make: quarters for conservation 2023 awardees.

If you’ve visited Happy Hollow Park & Zoo since 2015, you’ve helped support the conservation of wildlife just by purchasing an admission ticket or membership. In 2023, Happy Hollow awarded a total of $50,000 in grants to four conservation organizations spread across the world doing impactful work toward the conservation of macaws, African lions, highly trafficked wildlife like pangolins, and Asian elephants.

Conservation and sustainability are at the heart of all programs, exhibits, activities and operations at Happy Hollow.

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Safari Park Zoo is shut down in Fier, Albania 

#NoMoreFierZoo – FOUR PAWS evacuates wild animals from 'Europe's worst zoo'

For safety reasons, the owner of the Safari Park Zoo was not warned in advance that the wild animals would be confiscated. An international team of veterinarians as well as a special unit of the Albanian police supervised the rescue mission. In a dramatic moment, the police broke the entrance gate to give the rescue team of almost twenty people access to the zoo.

"What we saw was shocking... dirty little concrete enclosures with dejected animals inside. The animals are all in bad condition."

Dr. marc gölkel, izw berlin veterinarian.

First stop: Tirana Zoo

The top priority was to get the animals to a safe place as quickly as possible. FOUR PAWS temporarily transferred the three lions, the three-legged bear, the zebra, fox, waterbuck, red deer and the three fallow deer to the zoo in Tirana where new enclosures for the rescued animals were waiting. Originally, twelve wild animals were on the FOUR PAWS rescue list – but the tortoise was untraceable. As soon as the animals have recovered, we will transfer them to sanctuaries appropriate to their species.

"We're glad that we got these animals out of this rundown prison. A big thank you goes to the Albanian government that made this mission possible."

Ioana dungler, director of the four paws wild animals department, zebra dies after transfer.

As part of routine procedure, the team of veterinarians sedated the zebra and loaded him onto a horse trailer for transportation. During the trip he was fully conscious, however the zebra died unexpectedly shortly after being released into an enclosure at Tirana Zoo. There is always a residual risk when using anaesthesia – especially if the animal has been kept in poor conditions. Sedation and the two-hour transfer were obviously too much for the weakened zebra. We are all devastated that we were unable to give more help to this poor animal.

FOUR PAWS detected the Safari Park Zoo Fier in Albania years ago and we have investigated this private zoo several times already. Here, a number of wild and domesticated animals are kept in terrible conditions. While FOUR PAWS and other animal welfare activists documented the apalling situation of these animals several times, it was clear that nothing could be done. In this case, human kindness was overruled by legislation. 

We were forced to wait on the sidelines, monitor the situation and wait for an opportunity to step in. And now, at last, a ray of hope has appeared on the horizon: the horrific Fier Zoo may be shut down. Finally, a better future for the animals seems within reach!

we need your help!

#nomorefierzoo, "signs of the mental and physical impact of being kept in such abject surroundings are clearly shown by each of the poor animals in the zoo. if something is not done soon, these animals will continue to suffer and most likely die in these unspeakable conditions.", ray of hope.

We are working hard to prepare whatever is needed to make this option a reality. It is a complex and risky case, and we are doing everything we can to bring the animals to safety as soon as possible. We need your support and will keep you posted here and on Facebook.

Urgent need to act

Fast action is needed, as changes to legislation and the facility's obviously dire economic situation (no visitors) could result in the animals being sold or even killed! The Albanian Ministry of Tourism and Environment is aware of the situation at the zoo and has expressed its willingness to provide support, but FOUR PAWS must deliver a solution for the animals. While waiting for a green light to act, we are preparing everything required for the rescue mission.

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Safari West Presents! Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue

Conservation Dinner Series:   Taylor Thomas of Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue joins us in the elephant room after dinner to give a talk about wildlife rehab and rescues.

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Safari West Presents! River Otter Ecology Project

Conservation Dinner Series: Eric Jones of River Otter Ecology Project  joins us in the elephant room after dinner to give a talk about the river otter.

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