site.btaPlovdiv Municipality to Create Municipal Enterprise for Completion of Local Zoo

Plovdiv Municipality will create a Municipal Enterprise Zoo-Plovdiv for the completion of the local zoo, the municipal press centre said on Tuesday.

The draft of the regulations regarding the operation of the Municipal Enterprise has already been uploaded to Plovdiv Municipality's website for public discussion. According to the draft, the zoo will have a collection of animal species of great conservation value. For this purpose, employees with expertise will be brought into the enterprise to work on the rapid completion of the existing habitats according to the regulatory requirements, the licensing and commissioning of individual habitats, and the ultimate goal to obtain a license for the entire zoo.

Some of the animal species of great conservation value will participate in international breeding programmes with the aim to prevent the extinction of endangered species and populations by returning them to their natural habitats. Even before the final completion of the zoo, a scientific-experimental and educational centre will be opened, according to the published draft.

The new Municipal Enterprise Zoo-Plovdiv is expected to start operation on February 1, 2025, with the total number of staff proposed to be 10 full-time employees, part of whom will be transferred from the Municipal Enterprise Zooveterinary Complex.

Plovdiv Municipality is implementing the project under Operational Programme Environment 2021-2027.

The Plovdiv Zoo has been closed to visitors since 2008. In 2014, the animals were moved to other zoos throughout the country and the complete reconstruction of the premises began, which has still not been completed due to legal cases against people involved in the project and financial issues.