Auto Safari Zoo - Cala Millor

We strongly recommend that you do not visit the Auto Safari Zoo between Cala Millor and Sa Coma. Below is the email we received from the Bornfree Foundation which protects animal rights in the UK.

Dear Gerry,

Thank you for your email, I have provided some information below.

The Born Free Foundation is an international wildlife charity working world wide to prevent animal suffering and protect endangered species in the wild. Zoo Check is the core programme of Born Free, and works to expose and prevent the physical and psychological suffering of captive animals, and campaigns to keep wildlife in the wild by raising greater awareness of these issues. We contact the relevant Governments and authorities, and seek similar organisations in order to address these issues more effectively.

Born Free receives more complaints about animal exploitation in Spain than in any other country. This is of course linked to Spain being such a popular holiday destination. However, the reports clearly indicate this is an area we need to focus on.


In the last couple of years Zoo Check has received numerous reports from holidaymakers returning home, distressed at seeing the conditions for the animals, the circus style show and the exploitation of young and adult big cats as photographic props at the Zoo Safari Mentz, Porto Cristo, Cala Millor. Zoo Check has received so many reports about this establishment that it is currently in Zoo Checks ‘Top 10’ most complained about animal ‘attractions’.

The 44 hectare safari park houses a wide range of animals, and although some of these have more space than in ‘traditional’ zoos, reports from visiting tourists describe the enclosures as barren, offering the animals little stimulation or shade from the sun. Those animals that are not housed in the ‘safari park’ area of the zoo are subject to much worse conditions, many being kept in tiny, concrete floored, ‘cell-like’ enclosures which lack any vegetation, shade or environmental enrichment. Rats are apparently frequently seen in the enclosures and many of the animals do not appear to even have access to fresh drinking water.

Many of the reports received suggest that a lot of the animals at Zoo Safari Mentz are in a poor state of health, underweight and covered in flies. Concerns have also been raised regarding the number of animals at the park which show abnormal, stereotypic behaviour.

Joining forces with colleagues at Spanish animal welfare organisations, ANDA & Depana, we have investigated conditions in zoos throughout different regions, and compared these to the requirements of the EU Directive on zoos. This law was introduced a few years ago to ensure higher standards in welfare and conservation. Spain should have complied with these standards by October 2004. Our research, however, has revealed this is far from the case – the law has not been implemented, and conditions in many zoos fall below the minimum requirements. These zoos should be shut down and the animals re-homed. This evidence was sent to the European Commission, together with information collected from the Regional Governments confirming the true number of zoos in Spain is actually not known, in the hope that Spain would be taken to European Court of Justice for non-compliance.

Following the investigations by InfoZoos (Born Free, ANDA & Depana), in March 2007, the European Commission filed an infraction procedure against Spain for not complying with the requirements of the European Zoos Directive.

Spain has two months to respond to the legal challenge and provide detail as to how the Spanish Government will ensure that all zoos in the country will meet the standards by a deadline that expires in just two and a half years. If they fail to respond, Spain will face further legal proceedings.

More information and the results of our investigations can be found on the InfoZoos website at www.infozoos.org  and also at http://www.bornfree.org.uk/

If you have any quires or would like any further information, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Zoo Check Team

Born Free Foundation

Zoocheck[at]bornfree.org.uk


Tel: 01403 240170