WILLEMSTAD – Minister of Health, Environment and Nature (GMN), Javier Silvania (MFK), has assured the public that the Curaçao Zoo will remain open, even as the government moves to terminate its management agreement with the Curaçao Zoo Foundation as of November 4.
The foundation has strongly opposed the decision, calling the minister’s reasoning “not based on truth” and legally disputable. The board also argued that government subsidies have been insufficient for years and that repeated requests for increases went unanswered.
Silvania, however, stated that the termination followed a thorough evaluation that revealed significant shortcomings, including overdue maintenance, limited opening hours, and negligence in animal welfare.
In his statement, the minister emphasized that the zoo’s future is secure. “We will do everything possible to safeguard jobs and work with stakeholders on developing a new, sustainable management model,” Silvania said.
The Curaçao Zoo Foundation has filed an official protest against the decision but expressed its willingness to engage in constructive dialogue with the ministry to resolve the matter without resorting to legal action.