The Giza Zoo and neighboring Orman Garden will be closed for renovations for a period of eighteen months starting Sunday, 9 June, according to a statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Agriculture and Land Reclamation on 8 June. Development plans aim to optimize the Giza Zoo’s operations by turning it into an open-range facility with no cages, in accordance with international safety standards, explained ministry spokesperson Ahmed Ibrahim. Additionally, the neighboring Orman Botanical Garden will be connected directly with the zoo. The renovations, which are being carried out in collaboration with the International Federation of Zoos and under the supervision of the African Union of Zoos, aim to meet these international standards all the while “protecting [the zoo’s] archaeological character, rare plants and trees, and restoring its heritage and past glamor.” Both the Orman Botanical Garden and the Giza Zoo date back to the nineteenth century and were established under Khedive Ismail’s rule. The latter never closed its doors long-term since its establishment in 1891. Nonetheless, in recent years, the zoo has faced accusations of animal cruelty and lost several of its inhabitants to alleged neglect, mistreatment, and even…
