Dear Mr. Gustavo Martinez,

I am writing to draw your attention to the unpleasant reality that I have experienced with my students in the Zoo of Mendoza. We have witnessed the terrible conditions of the animals caused by carelessness and mistreatment and it seems to us that something must be done.

The basic problem is the lack of caring which leads to animals’ deaths, most of them due to poor sanitary conditions, mistreatment and overcrowding. To give an example, the white and fallow deer are less than the last time we visited; this has been caused by the rain, the cold and the severe overcrowding.

Moreover, the climate condition of our province is not appropriate for many animals that we have in the zoo. For example, Arturo, our polar bear, has spent 21 years of his life at the zoo in Mendoza, where temperatures in the summer often exceed 40 degrees. After his pen partner died in 2012, and another polar bear died in Buenos Aires later that year, Arturo is now the only polar bear alive in Argentina.

One suggestion to the problem would be to donate the animals; this in our view would allow a better handling of the animals in the zoo and would provide an important saving. Also, building sheds would protect them from the cold and rain.

In addition to this, we ask that you exercise your authority so the polar bear Arturo, who lives in disgraceful conditions in the Mendoza Zoo, is moved to his natural habitat so he can live in suitable conditions.

We trust this matter will be given careful consideration and that appropriate action will be taken before more animals died.

                                                                                                            Yours sincerely,

                                                                                                                               Maria