Forest Fires
On July 31, 2007 it was reported in the media that almost 65% of the park was burned due to forest fires, and that some exotic bird species such as the Toucan may have been killed. The forest fires caused evacuations of certain parts of Gran Canaria and Tenerife. A local Forest Ranger was accused of starting the fires intentionally in order to keep him in employment as his contract was due to expire.
Because Palmitos Park was severely affected by the fire, it was closed for a whole year. The park opened for the public again August 4 2008. It has a new section with information about the forest fire.
Read more about this topic: Palmitos Park
Famous quotes containing the words forest and/or fires:
“You have debased [my] child.... You have made him a laughingstock of intelligence ... a stench in the nostrils of the gods of the ionosphere.”
—Lee, Dr. De Forest (1873–1961)
“Talleyrand said that two things are essential in life: to give good dinners and to keep on fair terms with women. As the years pass and fires cool, it can become unimportant to stay always on fair terms either with women or one’s fellows, but a wide and sensitive appreciation of fine flavours can still abide with us, to warm our hearts.”
—M.F.K. Fisher (b. 1908)