FOUR PAWS Provides Veterinary Support for Blagoevgrad Zoo in Bulgaria
#ChangeForZooAnimals
In cooperation with the Blagoevgrad Zoo and the Municipality of Blagoevgrad, the international animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS supported the zoo with veterinary treatment of their two male bears, Yancho and Borko. Wildlife veterinarian Marc Gölkel from the Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), with whom FOUR PAWS collaborates, implemented contraceptive measures to support the responsible management of the zoo's collection through planning and effective control of the reproduction of the animals, consistent with the available resources and capacity for their keeping.
The veterinary procedure was carried out by the IZW veterinarian with the participation of a team from the zoo, Dr Svetoslav Dimitrov, and in the presence of a representative of the Regional Food Safety Directorate – Blagoevgrad. It went without complications, and subsequent observation of the bears showed that they are in good health and feeling good.
Planning and control measures for breeding prevent the risk of a new generation of closely related animals and ensure that no more bears will be born, for which the zoo cannot provide the necessary environment and care.
Background
For more than ten years, FOUR PAWS has been working purposefully and committedly on issues related to zoos in Bulgaria. During this period, we have repeatedly signalled various problems in keeping big cats and bears in different zoos. We initiated inspections and helped relocate 7 lions and 9 bears from Bulgarian zoos, finding them better homes by transporting them and/or accommodating them in one of the FOUR PAWS sanctuaries. FOUR PAWS' report on zoos in Bulgaria, compiled through an analysis of documents and field investigations, which was published in 2021, revealed serious problems in the conditions in which wild animals are kept in the country. The results of the study showed that for years, many of the animals were kept in zoos without a license and in unfavourable conditions that did not meet legal requirements.
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The main systemic problems are:
- Poor living conditions, largely a consequence of the outdated infrastructure of zoos, animals live in bare, concrete cages or outdated enclosures, without proper environmental enrichment, in places without adequate hygienic maintenance.
- Lack of a plan for responsible management of the species collection – uncontrolled reproduction, which does not meet the capabilities and resources for the care of the zoo, as well as exchange through breeding loans of animals. Without them being part of a conservation programme, and ensuring that appropriate conditions for keeping are available.
- Reproduction of animals from the same family (closely related breeding), as a result of which, there is a high risk of serious health problems in newborn animals.
- Lack of educational, scientific and conservation activities (participation in conservation programmes and research, availability of an educational center and information boards, as well as conducting workshops, lectures or events aimed at children and students) to justify the keeping of wild animals outside their natural environment – such a deficit in the activity of zoos is contrary to the EU Zoos Directive, which obliges zoos to contribute to the conservation of biodiversity and to have an educational role in society.
- Neglect of licensing requirements results in a lack of improvements in the conditions of keeping animals that remain confined in inappropriate conditions for many years.
The report and recommendations of FOUR PAWS for improving the conditions of keeping and caring for animals in Bulgarian zoos were presented to the European Commission and the competent institutions at the national level. We managed to collect more than 51,000 signatures for our petition, with which we called for the overcoming of the above-mentioned problems and the end of bad practices to be put on the agenda by the national control body – the Ministry of Environment and Water and by the owners and managers of zoos.
We are happy that our #CloseCruelCages campaign has raised awareness among local decision makers and that some of our recommendations were incorporated into the zoo licensing process, as well as through the opportunity to apply for a grant funding under the Operational Programme Environment in the period 2021-2027. All municipalities with zoos on their territory have signed a contract for the implementation of projects as part of a process that resulted in the creation of planning documents for development, including plans for the zoos’ short- and long-term activities in the areas of collection, reproduction and conservation. Publicly available plans include expansion, reconstruction, and improvement of facilities to improve the conditions of keeping animals, in line with modern welfare standards and legal requirements.
Blagoevgrad Zoo
In our zoo report, the Blagoevgrad Zoo is described as an example with significant room for improvement. It was licensed in 2021, but with unfulfilled conditions from previous licenses, as a result of which the animals continue to be kept in inappropriate conditions. Among them are:
- Insufficient vegetation and medium enrichment for lions
- Lack of a suitable environment and enclosure for the American bison
- Non-compliant area and social environment requirements for other species, such as green sea cat, hamadryas baboon, wild boar, pheasants
- Lack of participation in scientific and educational activities
Since then, several improvements have been made: As of 2025, the American bison and hamadryas baboon, wild boar and pheasants are no longer kept in the zoo. A new habitat for herbivores was built, medium enrichment and clothing for lions were introduced, and the diet of all animals was improved. The published Development Plan of Blagoevgrad Zoo 2025-2034, co-financed by the EU under Programme Environment 2021-2027, outlines the unsuitable conditions for the respective species, planned construction of administrative capacity, website, water supply and electricity network, information centre, reconstruction and new habitats providing a suitable environment close to the natural one for the species. There are no plans to breed bears and lions or to take in other large predators.
The successful implementation of the medical procedure in October 2025 is an important first step toward a truly positive change and shows that the shared goal of FOUR PAWS and Blagoevgrad Zoo to improve the welfare of animals in zoos is an achievable one. We hope that this is the beginning of a cooperation aimed at implementing the main recommendations described in the FOUR PAWS' report on zoos in Bulgaria, among which are: ending the keeping of large predators in inappropriate conditions, strict control over licensing and compliance with the conditions, improving the animal environment through investment and training, active participation of zoos in conservation and educational activities.
FOUR PAWS will continue to monitor the development of the situation and the implementation of the goals set in the planning documents for #ChangeForZooAnimals.
