Bear Escape at Melios Zoo Sparks Calls for Tougher Inspections

A bear was found outside its cage at Melios Zoo in Cyprus on Saturday evening, prompting Animal Welfare Commissioner Elias Myrianthous to call for more systematic inspections of zoos. The incident has raised concerns over the zoo's safety and compliance with animal welfare laws. The zoo's owner, Menelaos Menelaou, disputes the commissioner's account, stating that the bear never left the enclosure. The zoo has been in dispute with the state for years, with multiple court rulings against it for breaching safety rules and violating the law.