Newsflash: The director of the Ramat Gan Safari is Yehuda Bar. Mr. Bar is a retired army officer. He is the first to admit that 1) he got his job “…because I’m friends with the mayor of Ramat Gan” and 2) “I know nothing about animals.”

When I saw that the “Big Cats” were traumatized (they’re kept in little cages and thus exhibit pacing behavior, etc.) I had a meeting with Bar and offered to become a fundraiser — free of charge. He admitted 3) “I know nothing about fundraising” and decided it was too much for him to handle.

In his own words, the Safari is being run by someone whose “talents” at animal and institutional management are questionable.

The Safari has an internal PR person whose job it is, naturally, to paint a pretty picture of what’s going on at the Safari. Transparency? In Israel? Try to find out why some of the elephants have died (total mismanagement). Other animals have died there but unless someone shines a light on the lack of care, it’s business as usual.

The dung? I’m glad the trees are benefitting as clearly, under Mr. Bar’s regime — and that of the veterinarian who oversees the environment and animal care in Ramat Gan — the animals are not.

Thanks for sharing.

Joost Hoogstrate