Ähtäri Zoo declared bankrupt, to remain open this month

Ähtäri Zoo, the oldest natural wildlife park in Finland and its accommodation facility Hotel Mesikämmen were declared bankrupts, said the Zoo authority.

The Southern Ostrobothnia District Court on Monday declared the zoo and the hotel bankrupts following applications filed by the companies on October 10.

The zoo and the hotel, however, will remain open at least until October 31, the zoo authority said.

Earlier, the authority said that the zoo failed to earn commercial viability despite taking austerity measures which prompted the authority to file the bankruptcy applications.

"The zoo has been operating for over 50 years. We are working to find a successor for the company's operations, but it is also possible that the operations will be ended permanently," said the Chief Executive Officer of Ähtäri Zoo, Arja Väliaho while submitting the bankruptcy applications.

The operations of the zoo and the hotel suffered financial crisis significantly due to declining number of tourists, corona pandemic, Russian invasion of Ukraine and the poor financial situation of households, said the zoo authority.

Earlier in 2024 the Ähtäri zoo announced that two giant pandas would return to China.

Located in west central Finland. The Ähtäri Zoo is the main attraction of the small city.