Supreme Court of Cyprus finally confirms closure of Melios Zoo

The Supreme Constitutional Court of Cyprus has dismissed the appeal of Melios Zoo Park owner Menelaos Menelaou, effectively confirming the decision to close the zoo. The court also ordered him to pay €4,000 in legal costs to the state.

The ruling upholds a previous verdict by the Administrative Court of Cyprus, which had earlier dismissed three consolidated complaints by the owner against decisions made by planning and veterinary services.

During inspections, authorities identified a number of violations. These included the illegal expansion of the zoo's territory onto state and private lands, deviations from approved construction plans, and the keeping of large predators without the necessary security measures.

Furthermore, it was revealed that the zoo did not have sufficient water supply for its operation, as the existing permit only covered limited water use for irrigation.

As far back as 2017, the Cyprus Veterinary Services refused to renew the operating license and ordered the closure of the zoo due to non-compliance with animal welfare legislation.

The court noted that many of the appeal's arguments were unfounded or filed too late, and that its powers are limited to reviewing the legality of decisions rather than re-evaluating their substance. Ultimately, the court found that state authorities acted within the law and made decisions based on all necessary evidence.