Piotr Przyłucki became the new director of the Poznań Zoo. The man is a specialist with experience who previously worked in breeding centers and zoos in Poland and Europe. The new director will take up his duties on July 15.
“During his research, he dealt with, among other things, keeping marine mammals in captivity, as well as feeding animals and people. He participated in scientific expeditions to the Northern Arctic Circle, where he identified species of whales and dolphins. He also worked in breeding centers and zoos in Poland and Europe, as well as in a veterinary office,” we read on the website of the Poznań city hall.
The man is the founder and president of an educational association that promotes learning about porpoises, dolphins and whales.
A predecessor with accusations
Ewa Zgrabczyńska, Przyłucki's predecessor (she agreed to the publication of her data and image) in March was charged by prosecutors with, among others, embezzlement of public money and property or inducing witnesses to give false testimony.
The investigation into irregularities in the zoo is conducted by the District Prosecutor's Office in Poznań. As investigators said in a statement, “the proceedings were initiated upon a notification from a natural person.” Based on extensive evidence – witness statements and disclosed documents – the woman was charged with criminal offenses.
“Ewa Z. is suspected of exceeding the powers of a public official and acting to the detriment of the public interest, including fraud and misappropriation of property to the detriment of the City of Poznań and certifying untruths in the documentation. The charges also include concealing assets to the detriment of creditors. The prosecutor also accuses the suspect of this that, taking advantage of her position, she instructed a zoo employee to submit false testimony that was favorable to her,” says the District Prosecutor's Office in Poznań.
Ewa Zgrabczyńska pleaded not guilty to the charges. According to investigators, “she provided extensive explanations that are inconsistent with the evidence collected so far.”
According to investigators, Ewa Zgrabczyńska, as the director of the zoo in the years 2016-2024, demonstrated mismanagement of at least PLN 100,000. She was also supposed to use a company car for private purposes, and the food, vaccines and medicines purchased for the zoo were to be used for animals she owned. Zgrabczyńska was also supposed to have commissioned a veterinarian employed at the zoo to perform medical procedures on her four raccoons and two dogs. According to investigators, she twice certified falsehoods in the zoo's documentation.
Main photo source: Shutterstock