Beginning in March 2014, the two government-owned zoos in Costa Rica will be closed. The country is known for prioritizing environmental conservation, and zoo closures are a major step that animal rights and environmental advocates have been supporting worldwide for years. And Costa Rica really doesn't need artificial diversity given that the country houses 500,000 species of organisms, or four percent of all known species.


The closures will take effect when the government's contracts expire with the company that runs Simon Bolivar Zoo and the Santa Ana Conservation Center. Both zoos will be turned into parks. "We don't want animals in captivity or enclosed in any way unless it is to rescue or save them," Environment Minister René Castro said. Zoos are fun, but they're also kind of creepy so good on you Costa Rica. [TreeHugger]