Right-wing media reports alleging Warsaw Zoo purchased hay from Germany prompted a sharp retort from Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski, who clarified the origin of the feed and mocked the accusations.
The Controversy Over Animal Feed
On Friday, May 5, the portal wPolityce.pl and the television station wPolsce24 alleged that hay ordered by Mayor Rafał Trzaskowski for the Warsaw Zoo was currently in transit from Germany. The zoo operates under the jurisdiction of the city administration.
Warsaw Zoo officials responded by stating that for this year, they had contracted 90 tons of hay from a Polish farmer. Trzaskowski confirmed this information, remarking that the situation could not be more Polish.
Procurement Standards and Nutritional Requirements
The zoo emphasized in an official statement that hay purchases follow a strictly defined tender process with precise quality requirements. Due to the need to ensure the highest quality of nutrition for animals, procurement sometimes occurs abroad.
Trzaskowski explained on social media that because the zoo houses animals not native to Poland, they require specific food to avoid health complications. He noted that while he would be delighted if giraffes and bongo antelopes ate traditional Polish soup, they prefer alfalfa, which is best sourced from Southern Europe—the origin of the product in question.
Clarifications and Political Commentary
The mayor clarified that neither the hay nor the alfalfa originated in Germany; only the distributor was German. He concluded his statement with a mocking question, suggesting that even if the hay were from Germany, people should be pleased that Germany has less hay to offer.
Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski also weighed in on the reports, stating that the “Haygate” scandal surpassed the severity of the controversy regarding butter served on LOT flights in terms of its impact on national sentiment.
Administrative Transparency
Warsaw Zoo explained that to reduce high transportation costs, zoos often organize joint shipments to share expenses, which occurred in this instance. All tender information regarding food procurement is public and available through the Public Information Bulletin and the e-Procurement platform.