Novosibirsk Zoo named after R. A. Shilo asked to stop voting for the mascot of the New Year’s capital of Russia, which is chosen from five animals, as it has turned into a political farce.
“Unfortunately, today we see that our animals have become participants in a farce that people have organized,” reads the site zoo.
The appeal notes that “a number of bloggers, deputies and journalists” called for giving the vote a political coloring.
“Novosibirsk Zoo is not interested in such attention to our pets, we do not like the creation of offensive memes, therefore we ask that the survey be stopped and its results not taken into account,” the statement said.
The zoo sent an official request to the deputy mayor of Novosibirsk, the head of the department of culture, sports and youth policy, Anna Tereshkova, to stop the vote.
Recall that in 2022 Novosibirsk became the New Year’s capital of Russia. Among the townspeople there was a vote for a talisman, which had to be chosen from five animals. Opposition politicians in the region campaigned for the orangutan Batu, stating that the candidates from the current government are the white bear cub Shilka and the snow leopard Sayan. According to the results competition the orangutan won – 39.39%. In second place is the leopard Sayan (37.19%).
