Following the death of lioness Tayri, the association urges the City of Zagreb to cease funding breeding and acquisition of new animals, noting that 75 percent of the Zoo's costs are covered by the city budget.
The Animal Friends association has asked the City of Zagreb to stop funding the breeding, acquisition, and exchange of animals at the Zagreb Zoo, prompted by the recent death of lioness Tayri. They emphasize that the burden of maintaining the zoo is not primarily borne by its visitors, but by all residents of the capital through the budget.
According to the association, the City of Zagreb covers approximately 75 percent of the Zoo's operations, while only a smaller portion is covered by ticket sales. As a result, the cost is borne by those who never set foot there, as well as by citizens who find it unacceptable that public funds in the 21st century are used 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 perished due to that ruthless and unnatural zoo system, there is already talk of bringing another lioness, which we find completely unacceptable," Animal Friends stated in a press release issued on August 3, 2026.
The association warns that the public is often told that zoo breeding contributes to species conservation, but reality is different. A lion born in Zagreb remains within the zoo network, moves from one institution to another, and serves as an attraction; its birth does not contribute to the protection of natural habitats, does not curb poaching, and does not address the reasons why lions are disappearing from the wild.
"Such a system is not a justified investment," they stress, adding that zoos do not offer credible education because animals cannot exhibit behaviors characteristic of their natural habitats. This, they claim, sends a message to children that it is perfectly acceptable to keep wild animals confined for entertainment.
Animal Friends considers unjustified the millions of euros allocated annually to run the Zoo for maintaining a collection of animals intended for visitors' entertainment. "Such a system should not be funded with public money. The City of Zagreb should cease 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 genuine animal protection projects.
"Public money must have clear public benefit and justification, which is not the case for the zoo," the association says.
Finally, they stress 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," Animal Friends conclude.
