Boston Considers Closing Franklin Park Zoo and Killing Animals Due to Budget Shortfall

Boston’s Franklin Park Zoo is joining other zoos which are considering closing or killing (or transferring) animals due to budget shortfalls — as we continue to spend billions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Even if the zoo does not closed, one thousand animals may be euthanized or transferred from the zoo.

Despite the fact that zoos and parks are some of the most popular public programs, politicians are selling them off or closing them due to budget shortfalls (here). It will take three years and roughly $9 million to shutdown the Franklin zoo and a smaller zoo. While the legislature provided $6.5 million for the zoos, but Governor Patrick used a line-item veto to cut the funding to $2.5 million.

A single day of expenditures in Iraq would fund every zoo currently facing closure in America for years. Yet, we are cannibalizing our public parks and zoos to fund a war for a nation with some of the largest oil reserves in the world. Putting aside the hundreds of billions spent on these wars, it took massive incompetence among our politicians to get to the point that the United States cannot even sustain its parks and zoos. Yet, there appears to be little outcry or backlash from the public.

For the full story, click here.