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:
“Above the forest of the parakeets,
A parakeet of parakeets prevails,
A pip of life amid a mort of tails.”
—Wallace Stevens (1879–1955)
“Every year without knowing it I have passed the day
When the last fires will wave to me”
—William Stanley Merwin (b. 1927)