Gaziantep Zoo's Animal Welfare Under Scrutiny in Turkish Parliament

Serious questions are being raised in the Turkish Parliament regarding the welfare of animals at the Gaziantep Zoo. Sevda Karaca, a Member of Parliament from the Emek Party (EMEP) for Gaziantep, has formally submitted a parliamentary inquiry to the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry, İbrahim Yumaklı, demanding answers about the alleged substandard living conditions. This move by a local representative underscores a growing public demand for accountability and transparency in the management of the city's zoo facilities.

Independent observation processes, reportedly initiated in November 2025, have identified significant issues. These include critical deficiencies in hygiene, feeding practices, and the suitability of enclosures for various species. Furthermore, concerns have been raised about the lack of environmental enrichment and the manifestation of stereotypical behaviors among the animals, indicative of stress and inadequate care. Despite meetings with Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality officials and the submission of expert reports, no publicly accessible, time-bound, or verifiable improvement plan has been announced, fueling further concern.

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Serious problems have been identified in terms of hygiene conditions, feeding routines, suitability of enclosures for species, social needs, lack of environmental enrichment, and stereotypical behaviors during independent observation processes.

MP Karaca's inquiry presses for detailed information on whether official inspection reports acknowledge these documented problems. She questions the reasons behind any failure to identify such apparent violations during inspections. The request also seeks the public disclosure of vital records, including current species and individual lists, birth and death records, transfer logs, veterinary reports, feeding programs, and necropsy reports. The lack of transparency from the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality and zoo management is a central point of contention, with Karaca asking if administrative action will be taken. The specific case of a deceased elephant in 2023 and the identity of the surviving elephant are also highlighted, pointing to a need for precise record-keeping and verification. The welfare of a lone Asian elephant, particularly its social and behavioral needs, is also a focus of the inquiry, indicating a comprehensive approach to animal welfare concerns.

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Despite the fact that these problems were communicated by independent experts in meetings with Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality officials in February 2026, and expert reports were forwarded to the zoo management in March, and the continuation of the problems was reported with new observations and images in April, no publicly open, scheduled, and auditable improvement plan has been announced to date.