Councilor slams Hsinchu mayor for zoo neglect, broken promises

Hsinchu City Councilor Yang Ling-yi criticized Mayor Kao Hung-an's administration for administrative negligence, stating the Hsinchu Municipal Zoo has fallen into disrepair and become a neglected corner of the city. Yang alleged that animals are injured without adequate care and that zoo facilities are broken and poorly maintained.

Yang claimed that Kao's past promises to treat animals kindly and maintain the environment were lies. She pointed to issues like malfunctioning equipment, with broken elevators and facilities marked by simple "caution" cones. The councilor also noted that contracts for the visitor center and gift shop expired at the end of last year, and despite new vendors taking over, the handover and setup mean they won't be operational until after the summer.

The councilor further criticized the city government for spending heavily on international intellectual property events while neglecting the zoo, which she described as the city's best marketing brand. She contrasted this with the zoo's current state of decline, which she said mirrors its condition 10 years ago. Yang also lamented the stagnation of other city projects, including the baseball stadium and the Jingpin City mall, attributing these issues to the administration's administrative laziness.

The Hsinchu City government responded that zoo improvements and related contracts are being executed as agreed. However, the councilor's remarks highlight significant public concern over the zoo's condition and the administration's priorities.