Kuusamo wildlife park CEO and board resign

The CEO and board of Kuusamo’s large predator centre have resigned, leaving founder and owner Sulo Karjalainen, 85, in charge of operations.

CEO Pasi Jäntti stepped down in May, citing disagreements with Karjalainen over maintenance standards. Jäntti stated he could not take responsibility for work he was unable to carry out to required standards.

Jäntti confirmed the board had also resigned and said animals at the centre were in good health, with no recent interventions by authorities. The centre, closed for part of the summer, reopened on 6 July.

Karjalainen said the first visitors had already toured the facility and that conditions were adequate.

The centre was closed to the public in 2022 and 2023 after regional authorities identified multiple deficiencies, including holes in bear enclosures, sharp fence spikes, leaning posts, and worn or rusted materials. Inspectors also found an upper latch on a bear enclosure gate left open, and a lack of enrichment such as climbing trees for the bears.

In 2025, both Karjalainen and Jäntti were convicted of animal welfare violations related to the treatment of a bear cub, which was kept in a small cage in a storage room, causing stress and boredom. Prosecutors sought penalties for additional neglect, but those charges were dismissed due to insufficient evidence.