ANIMAL RIGHTS

Feria plans for a fair while cats’ fate still up in the air

Another zoo offers a temporary home to the wild cats, but worries about affording their care.

Cat issue and debt won’t keep Feria de La Chorrera from putting on its annual international fair in April.

Carlos Lemos/la prensa

halfway home: Parque Summit could create a temporary habitat for the Feria´s three female lions. 1004321

Parque Natural Summit officials said yesterday that with some financial support and staff additions, they could be prepared to host the three female lions from the troubled Feria de La Chorrera.

According to Summit director Adrian Benedetti, although the Autoridad Nacional del Ambiente (Anam) has not contacted them regarding the wild cats, Summit does have space in their zoo area that could be adapted to suit them. The only drawback to adopting the lions is the cost.

A lioness can consume about 10 pounds of fresh meat every day. Benedetti says that the Summit´s budget cannot be stretched to cover the feeding and care the animals would require. Summit already has two jungle cats at its facility, an ocelot and a jaguar.

Anam authorities were meeting with Summit representatives today to discuss the matter, but both parties acknowledged that ameliorating the lionesses´ current habitat at the La Chorrera animal park would be the ideal solution.

Gerardino Ortega, chairman of Feria´s board, insists that they are complying with Anam´s recommendations aimed at improving the living conditions of the facility’s entire animal population.

Despite concerns over the mistreatment of the their wild cats and the recent revelation that the Feria has a $270,000 debt, board members have announced that the Feria Internacional de La Chorrera will indeed be held next month.

Ortega is optimistic that their loyal sponsors, including Café Duran, the Cervecería Nacional and the amusement park Play Land, will work with them to ensure that the fair is a financial success.

"We have earmarked about $6,000 for advertising, so that the entire Panamanian population knows about the Feria Internacional de La Chorrera and wants to come," said the fair´s treasurer, Pedro Rodríguez.

Rodríguez did admit that the budget for the various committees organizing the fair will have to be reduced by 25 percent.

The Feria Internacional de La Chorrera, which is organized by the same civic committees responsible for the Festival Folclórico, Comercial y Agropecuario de la Chorrera, will take place from April 11 to 20.