Following the death of lioness Tayri, Friends of Animals appeals to Zagreb authorities to halt funding for breeding and animal acquisition, noting that citizens cover three-quarters of the costs through the budget.
Following the death of lioness Tayri, the Friends of Animals association has sent a request to the City of Zagreb to stop allocating funds for breeding, acquiring, and exchanging animals at the Zagreb Zoo. The association emphasizes that the burden of maintaining the zoo falls not only on visitors but on all Zagreb residents through the city budget.
As the association notes, the City of Zagreb finances about 75 percent of the Zagreb Zoo's operations, while the rest is covered by ticket sales. This means that the cost is borne by those who never visit the zoo, as well as by citizens who believe that in the 21st century, it is inappropriate to use public money to keep wild animals in captivity for entertainment.
"The lioness Tayri and the lion Uganda were brought to Zagreb from other zoos to be paired for breeding. After Tayri died due to that ruthless and unnatural zoo system, there is already talk of bringing in another lioness, which we find completely unacceptable," Friends of Animals stated in a press release issued on August 3, 2026.
The association warns that the public is often told that zoo breeding helps conserve species, but the reality is different. A lion born in Zagreb remains within the zoo system, moving from one zoo to another and serving as an attraction. Its birth does not contribute to the protection of natural habitats, does not reduce poaching, and does not address the causes of lion decline in the wild.
"Such a system is not a justifiable investment," they stress, adding that zoos do not provide credible education because animals cannot exhibit natural behaviors. Children, they claim, are thus sent the message that it is acceptable to keep wild animals confined for entertainment.
Friends of Animals considers it unjustifiable to allocate millions of euros annually to run the Zagreb Zoo for the purpose of maintaining a collection of animals for recreation. "Such a system should not be funded with public money. The City of Zagreb should stop funding the breeding and acquisition of new animals, while visitors should pay the full ticket price," they state.
They propose that the funds currently invested in the zoo be gradually redirected toward transforming the space into a modern educational, scientific, and tourist center without captive animals, as well as toward other cultural and educational programs and projects for genuine animal protection.
"Public money must have clear public benefit and justification, which is not the case for the zoo," the association says.
Finally, the association emphasizes that the acquisition of a new lioness or her breeding must not be allowed, nor should such activities be funded from public resources. "We expect the City of Zagreb to prohibit the creation of new captives and to stop funding such a system. Citizens do not want to pay for new cages and new animals that will suffer in them," Friends of Animals concludes.
