Even though the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) has deemed the lease of the Safari Eco Park in Chaguaramas illegal, several animals continue to come into the country.
Last Wednesday, four zebras came in, while in August four camels arrived on T&T’s shores.
Yesterday, manager of the park, Matthew Habib, said the animals were ordered in April last year, after their lease was approved by the CDA.
“We signed a contract with a foreign supplier who has a list of animals that we requested. We paid for those animals well in advance and they are coming in small batches,” Habib said.
The park sits on 40 acres of land on the northwestern peninsula and is one of 22 leases which the CDA and Planning and Development Minister Camille Robinson-Regis have deemed illegal.
Habib said the park had approximately 100 safari animals, which would continue to grow.
“We were offered from an orphanage in Africa, two elephants. It is our ambition to bring them in. But before we can even start that we have to work out the acreage because it’s like five acres per elephant. We would have to organise ten acres so they can walk freely. It’s a lot of money to build up the enclosures for these elephants,” Habib said.
Among the animals they currently have are lemurs, llamas, kangaroos, alpacas, monkeys, macaws, mountain lions and variety of birds.
“What we plan to bring in is a lot of safari animals. We have antelopes that are due to come in before the end of the year. We are looking at a few hippopotamuses and African porcupines as well. We also have scheduled some three-toed sloths. All of that is to bring in the crowds,” Habib added.