WILLEMSTAD – The Board of the Curaçao Zoo Foundation has lodged an official protest against a letter from Minister of Health, Environment and Nature (GMN), Javier Silvania (MFK), announcing that the management agreement between Fundashon Parke Tropikal and the zoo will be terminated.

In a press statement, the foundation said the minister’s arguments “are not based on truth” and are legally disputable.

According to the foundation, its board has repeatedly written to the minister stressing that the government subsidy is insufficient and must be adjusted to meet the zoo’s needs. However, the board claims it never received a response. The statement also criticized the minister’s handling of the matter, noting that his visit to the board was sudden and unannounced: “An envelope with the letter was handed over, and later the announcements were made to the staff without prior consultation with the board,” the release stated.

The Curaçao Zoo strongly denies the accusations contained in the minister’s letter and has requested an urgent meeting to clarify the issues and work toward a sustainable solution without resorting to legal action.

The foundation emphasized its preference for “constructive dialogue,” underlining the importance of the zoo’s social role for the community.