Responding to criticism that the cages of many animals at the Yerevan Zoo are giving off a foul odor, especially given the recent high temperatures, Sahak Abovyan, the zoo’s director told Hetq that he couldn’t argue with the facts. "Sure there’s an odor, especially in the cages housing the cats. The animals urinate of the cement floors and it evaporates into the air," he said. Mr. Abovyan said the cages are washed down twice daily. "If we had open exhibits with grass, you wouldn’t smell a thing," he said. The program to build such animal spaces has been put on hold due to the financial crisis.