According to KhabarOnline, this zoo had previously been closed in 2014 due to inadequate animal care conditions, including the poor state of a brown bear and the small size of the animal enclosures. The recent closure of the facility has raised concerns about the fate of the animals and prompted questions among Babolsar residents about whether the city will once again have a zoo.
In a report, Hamshahri stated that the Deputy of Environmental Protection for Mazandaran Province explained the reasons for the zoo’s closure: “This facility was considered one of the oldest wildlife care centers in the province. Throughout the years, during inspections and evaluations, necessary warnings were issued to the management regarding the standardization of the site and the implementation of regulations and guidelines related to wildlife management. However, these recommendations were not acted upon, and the site was not in a satisfactory condition in terms of animal care. We have always had concerns regarding this facility.”
Rouhollah Esmaeili added, “Since the beginning of 2025, the guidelines from the Environmental Protection Organization have been reviewed and reissued to the provinces. Based on these guidelines, necessary evaluations were conducted, and the results indicated that this facility was in poor condition regarding animal care. The management was given the necessary warnings to improve the space, adhere to standards, and address health considerations, but none of these warnings were implemented, nor was there any change in the facility’s condition.”
The Deputy of Environmental Protection for Mazandaran continued, “Ultimately, the matter was pursued through judicial channels. The esteemed district attorney personally visited the facility and granted the management a legal deadline to rectify the situation. However, with the expiration of this deadline and no improvements made, the facility was closed.” Esmaeili also commented on the future of the zoo, stating, “The Environmental Protection Organization has decided that this facility will no longer operate as a wildlife care center. The location of this facility is fundamentally unsuitable for establishing a wildlife care center.”
In response to the question of why a permit was issued for this facility in the past despite these conditions, he explained, “The issued permit was conditional; because this facility was considered one of the older centers. However, when standards were not met and the facility did not improve, the organization decided to halt its operations.” The Deputy of Environmental Protection for Mazandaran also noted that this facility is situated on land leased from the municipality, adding, “Given that this area was leased by the municipality, this action could also assist the municipality in making a more suitable decision regarding the future of this land.”
Esmaeili discussed the status of the animals and the potential for casualties in previous years, stating, “We did not experience significant casualties worth mentioning, but the important issue was that the transfer and relocation of species from this center occurred without any records of animal entries and exits or even births and breeding in the relevant systems. This was one of our main concerns. In some cases, we encountered species in the possession of individuals that had been transferred from this center. Therefore, this facility not only lacked the necessary standards but also had violations regarding compliance with regulations. Animals must be transferred to authorized wildlife care centers.”
Finally, regarding the possibility of establishing a new zoo for Babolsar residents, he stated, “The Environmental Protection Organization has no restrictions on creating such a center, but if a new facility is to be established, it must fully comply with the established regulations, standards, and considerations.”
