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. The zoo also is preparing to take in exotic animals confiscated in neighboring Puerto Rico as part of a deal reached last year, including caimans that have been seized from suspected drug traffickers. In the Dominican Republic, officials continue to try to save species that once roamed free.