The President was present at the opening of the National Feral Zoo in Rome today.
The zoo has been stocked with the many captured specimens from the safari in the former Neo Incan lands in Patagonia. Used as a depository for the mutated beasts that were too dangerous to be a part of Neo-Incan society, they multiplied greatly, and with them all being killed or captured by the Marian administration, the Patagonians can make full use of the region.
There of course, has been great controversy by some bleeding he- er, Neo Incan citizens. Many think it is a "crime against furmanity" due to the fact the beasts are anthropomorphic animals much like many Neo-Incans.
De Zorrito defended his actions:
"By capturing them, we have enabled the Patagonians to live in peace without fear of being devoured by Ratcicles, Stenches, Sludges, and all other failed mutations. Their capture will not only make Patagonia safer, but generate great revenue for us all as the beasts are kept in captivity to not only protect their existence, but make sure they do not threaten the collective existence of all sentient beings."
"Many say this is akin to enslaving Neo-Incans. Being half-fox myself, I disagree. These creatures can in no way be considered sentient in the same way as humans and Neo-Incans can; they are primitive in their mannerisms and cannot be treated as if they were citizens. We are taking good care of them, and, was it any more wrong for humans to keep their feral monkey brothers in captivity, considering the monkey was in no way on par with humans despite similar biology?"
All species kept in the zoo shall be kept exclusively within Marian territory for security purposes. As the population expands, more zoos are expected to expand across the Federation. 5% of all money raised by any feral mutant zoo will go to the city sponsoring it, 10% to the province, 35% to the Marian government, 20% to the regions of Patagonia they were extracted from, and 30% to the national Patagonian government.
De Zorrito says that while the mutants are rightful Marian property due to the Federation's legitimacy as the inheritor of the Neo Incas' mandates, the harvesting would not have been possible without Patagonian assistance, and thus they deserve a fair share of the proceeds. It is hoped that by keeping these creatures in captivity, both Patagonia and the Federation can benefit.
In other news, the President says that with his agenda of devolved government nearing completion, he will soon get around to changing the budget's setup for all time.