– It’s all right, and he will come to us after a while, says Erik Nielsen, owner of Tangen animal park in Innlandet, to news. This happens after Tangen zoo in Innlandet applied to have the animal relocated to their park. – Have they had this confirmed by the Norwegian Environment Agency? – I have received a transfer permit. He is still in Kristiansand and comes to us from time to time, says Nielsen. Applied for permission Tangen zoo has over 200 animals and around 30 species. news has previously been given access to a document in which the veterinarian at Tangen Zoo writes that they have applied to have the serval. It says that they are willing to create a safe habitat for the serval, which can stand as an example they can use to teach them that exotic animals should not be a commodity. They also write that they disagree that the serval should be killed. news has also gained access to the application itself. It says that Tangen zoo is working with a master plan. Their aim is to develop the park “with an emphasis on education, conservation and to offer a sanctuary for rescued animals.” They have appointed an assistant director of operations and have started working with Stichting AAP (Netherlands). – It is in this context that we want to provide a safe habitat for the illegally imported serval known as Niño, where his needs will be met, the application states. – Fantastically happy Storting representative Tor André Johnsen (Frp) and sits on the justice committee. He says he can be called the spokesman for animal politics in the FRP. He has brought up the serval case in Parliament twice this autumn to the climate and environment minister, but also earlier. He is happy that the serval now gets a permanent home. – Reason prevails. It is wonderfully joyful. I have asked questions in recent weeks at the Storting, and have received decent answers, says Johnsen. He says Noah has been important in the case, and that they would prefer to have the serval in South Africa. He has always been concerned with animal welfare, and says that the most important thing for him in this case is that the serval is not killed. – She who owns him can visit him now, says Johnsen. – It would have been pointless to kill him. There are many who would have taken care of it. – Is it important for that that the serval now becomes a place in the interior? – It’s an extra fun game, because I’m from Stange, and I’ll be a regular guest there. Was in Kristiansand Servalen Niño was first observed at Os in Bjørnafjorden in June 2023. Shortly afterwards the owner was reported to the police. She pleaded guilty to complicity in the introduction of the serval in violation of the Natural Diversity Act. There has been talk of killing the illegally imported African feline, but the animal protection organization Noah has said that it is right to relocate the animal. The Serval owner wanted to take legal action against the state, but has withdrawn this. The case was raised because the serval owner has an agreement with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority that they will be notified if the exotic feline is to be killed. This animal was observed by a hiker. Video: Steffen Ljosheim The animal park in Kristiansand has until now had the serval Niño with it. They didn’t want him permanently. Rolf-Arne Ølberg is a veterinarian and animal science manager at Dyreparken in Kristiansand. He said that they do not want to prioritize animals that are part of a conservation programme, and thought the serval was not suitable for this. – This is a neutered, tame serval, it is not threatened in Africa. If we were to have servals, we would have servals that have grown up with servals, and that could have young. Will be fine Section chief Kjerstin Helene Kolvik Iversen in the Norwegian Food Safety Authority has previously stated that they are in favor of rehoming the feline. The serval owner’s lawyer, Roy André Håkonsen Arteid, then said that relocation was the only right thing to do. Here is the serval in the open. Now he will be relocated. Photo: Steffen Ljosheim Ølberg has said that it is not wrong to relocate the serval to another zoo. – For an animal like this, it is very wrong to live in a flat, said Ølberg. He said the animal will be fine if an enclosure is made that is suitable for servals, which is stimulating and provides the opportunity for natural behaviour. Published 01.11.2024, at 08.53 Updated 01.11.2024, at 08.57
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