SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The only zoo in the Dominican Republic is providing a safe haven for confiscated illegal and smuggled animals as a government crackdown aimed at protecting exotic species gathers pace. Commonly, flamingos are the most rescued animals, said Nelson García Marcano, head of the Caribbean nation’s Department of Wildlife Regulation and Control. Veterinarians run multiple tests on the rescued animals to determine their health. Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, is struggling with an overload of exotic species, with nearly 100 animals seized over the July 4 weekend alone. In the Dominican Republic, officials continue to try to save species that once roamed free.