Milicković: The animals died within 12 hours of each other

The owner and founder of the non-governmental organization "Animal Shelter and Recovery Montenegro" responded to the text "Camel, ostrich and emu from Piper died", which was published on the "Vijesti" portal on January 18. Miljan Milickovic.

We transmit the reaction of Milickovic in its entirety.

"Unfortunately, at the end of 2022, my family, friends, volunteers and I will forever remember the suffering of a large number of animals in a total time span of 12 hours. I reported the case to the Police Directorate due to suspicion of poisoning for several reasons, which I stated in the official records of the police, inspections... We will find out the exact reason for this animal suffering in a short time interval with the obtained results of toxicological laboratory analyzes performed on the basis of blood samples and parts of organs taken from the first animal to die.

The animals that died were loved, fed, pampered and cared for, which can be witnessed by numerous visitors, expert commissions, inspections and animal experts who visited our property.

We considered these animals members of our big family, especially because of their difficult fates, from which thanks to us they were saved from the streets, circuses and slaughterhouses, where they were treated only as "meat".

The fact is that we cannot bring the dead animals back, but we will do our best to provide a complete park in the coming period, with hidden forest cameras that will make it much easier for us to monitor the events in the 150.000 square meters of forest, meadows and pastures that our park covers.

In the disputed text that was published, several incomplete and incorrect information was stated, namely: misinformation was stated that the six animals that died were on the international Cites list of protected animal species. It is true that none of the animals that died are on the aforementioned list of protected animal species.

Disinformation was given that the State Prosecutor's Office was informed by the NGO "Spas", because I reported the case myself, at the same moment when the first corpse was found, with the presence of witnesses who were on the spot.

It was also stated that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did not issue a permit for the public display of animals, and the consent exists and is very clearly defined.

Disinformation was given that the Administration for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Affairs issued an illegal temporary permit for the operation of the zoo without the opinion and consent of the Environmental Protection Agency, which caused damage both to the aforementioned Administration and to me personally, because the consent to show animals exists. although the EPA management repeatedly tried verbally to negotiate its cancellation and to declare it invalid for reasons known to them. Who in Montenegro does not like the legalization of my park and why? That's a question that will have to come up one day", writes Milicković in his response.