Casablanca Zoo Set to Reopen Amid Controversy Over High Admission Fees

The Casablanca City Council will meet this Thursday, November 28, to ratify the management contract of the park entrusted to the Dream Village company, already in charge of the ecological village of Mohammedia. The mayor of Casablanca, Nabila Rmili, justified the delay in the opening by emphasizing the difficulty of reconciling a quality service worthy of international standards and the need to fill a management deficit estimated at 20 million dirhams.

The rehabilitation of the zoo required a colossal investment of 250 million dirhams, financed by the Ministry of the Interior, the City Council and the Casablanca-Settat region. To this are added 10 million dirhams per year for the maintenance of the site, a charge borne by the city. Dream Village will be responsible for managing the park, ensuring the maintenance of the infrastructure and ensuring the well-being of the animals, in accordance with Moroccan legislation.

To read: Financial Dispute Delays Opening of Casablanca’s New Zoo

It is the admission price that is causing an outcry: 80 dirhams for adults and 50 dirhams for children, with an increase planned to 100 and 60 dirhams respectively by 2029. The parking lot will be paid (15 dirhams) and the revenues from the restaurants, shops and the amusement park will go to the management company. On social networks, many Casablanca families, especially those with modest incomes, are concerned that they will not be able to access this leisure place that has become too expensive.

Despite this controversy over prices, the Aïn Sebaâ zoo promises an enriching experience with nearly 320 animals of 75 different species evolving in a modernized environment similar to what is already found at the Rabat zoo.