Costa Rica is giving the world a lesson in responsibility and empathy by banning zoos in its country.
The new law will come into force in 2014, and will involve the conversion of the country's two public zoos.
zoo in Costa Rica
"We're sending a message to the world. We want to be consistent with our vision of a country that protects nature", said Ana Lorena Guevara, Costa Rica's Vice-Minister of the Environment.
The zoological facilities will be remodeled into botanical gardens. The main objective of the gardens will be the repopulation by birds and other species in a natural way, so that citizens can have an urban nature park where animals can roam freely.
"The Ministry has a responsibility to respond to the growing environmental awareness in Costa Rica, who no longer want to see animals in cages. This is an old idea that no longer goes with the Costa Rican, he could have done it before, but it's never too late," said Environment Minister René Castro.
Costa Rica has also been a pioneer in banning the captivity of cetaceans such as dolphins and whales. This law was passed in July 2005, and has since succeeded in uniting countries such as Chile, Hungary and India to the ban.
