Oleg Zubkov, a well-known Crimean businessman and owner of zoos, has returned from a long trip to China, where he signed a contract to supply giraffes and hippos to his zoos. This is reported by the correspondent of ‘Crimea.Realia’.
According to activists of the Crimean branch of the international campaign for the deoccupation of Crimea #Liberateсrimea, China is important for Zubkov not only as a partner in the purchase of animals, but also as a huge market for lion cubs and tiger cubs, which he raises in his zoos.
Animal rights activists have long criticised the Taigan lion park, calling it an ‘animal farm’. Dozens of lion cubs and tiger cubs are born here every year. According to Russian regulations, they are officially included in the zoo’s collection only at the end of the year, but until then Zubkov manages to make money from their illegal use in photo zones. He then sells the animals on the black market, making huge profits. This allows him to carry out large projects such as the Crimean Coliseum.
‘Zubkov has effectively closed all the needs of the Russian market, which, with the exception of the North Caucasus, is not that big. Entering the Chinese market is a real Klondike for him, given the high demand in this country, especially for tigers,’ the activists emphasised.