The Dominican Republic’s National Zoological Park (Zoodom) in Santo Domingo has begun receiving exotic animals from Puerto Rico, prompting questions about the potential challenges this influx could present to the receiving nation, EFE reports. The animals are being relocated from Puerto Rico’s Center for Rehabilitation of Native Species and Management of Exotic Species in Cambalache, Arecibo, which suffered severe damage from Hurricane Maria in 2017, with reconstruction efforts not starting until August 2024.
Efe reports that the initial transfer, funded by Zoodom, has included six rhesus monkeys (two males and four females) and two caimans, according to a statement from the Puerto Rico Department of Natural and Environmental Resources (DRNA).
The news reports says that the relocation provides a safe haven for the exotic animals but presents potential problems for the DR.
The story expresses concern that the arrival of new exotic animals places an immediate strain on the Dominican zoo’s resources. The animals require specialized housing, feed, veterinary care, and expert personnel required to manage potentially dangerous or complex species like rhesus monkeys, which have been known to escape in Puerto Rico, such as a notable incident in Santurce in November 2021.
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2 December 2025