Zoo scrapped for man-made volcano and mini golf

A controversial plan for Samoa's first zoo has been scrapped for a more acceptable alternative form of entertainment in a mini-golf, a safari like experience with animal sculptures, and a man-made volcano.  

The plan was revealed by the Owner of Samoa’s Fiafia Park and Magic Circus, Tupa'i Bruno Loyale during an interview with the Samoa Observer.

“We were talking about the complications of having a zoo with live animals in Samoa and there was lot of negativity," he said.

"So we put our heads together and decided to develop a putt putt mini-golf of a zoo with sculptures of animals such as elephants, lions, tigers, bears, deer, a hoard of animals inside."

Tupa'i explained that the highlight of this safari experience is a man-made volcano, which will be a critical part of the park. Tupa'i said Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi was aware of the plan. 

“Even this [Tuesday] morning, the Prime Minister was here and we talked about it, he loved it because it’s good for the children," Tupa'i said.  

 “It is made of solid rock which was collected from the land here and it took almost three weeks with an excavator to do all this. It was a concept of the jungle, safari, animals and a volcano on the background because it’s something you don’t see every day.”

Tupa'i said these are very sad times but Samoa is blessed to still not have a case of coronavirus.

“The environment or surrounding will be lit up with lights and you can play mini-golf at night or day time," he said. 

“With all that is happening around the world, it will end at some point in time and when that happens, tourists will flock in the country and Samoa has something to offer which is an amusement park, a putt putt golf course, not forgetting a castle that will be opened for dinners, weddings.

“I have already gotten requests from nine people who want to get married in the castle but it’s not ready before Christmas.

"It will have a swimming pool, spa so it’s a whole entertainment center here and of course this side we will develop a water slide but for now we are concentrating on the safari.”

He also revealed that the Samoa Fiafia Park will be open to public on 24^th, 26^th of December and 2^nd January 2021. 

In the meantime, the Circus village tour is continuing out in the villages.