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)
“If you feed a man, and wash his clothes, and borne his children, you and that man are married, that man is yours. If you sweep a house, and tend its fires and fill its stoves, and there is love in you all the years you are doing this, then you and that house are married, that house is yours.”
—Truman Capote (20th century)