REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Friday, April 11, 1986

THE Hare Krishna World wanted to shift Coolangatta Zoo’s wild animals into their own $8 million Tweed Valley kingdom.

The Krisnas were one of four groups negotiating to buy the animals for a six-figure amount following the sale of the Natureland Zoo site for a proposed 227-unit residential development.

A Sydney multi-millionaire, a Victorian company and a North Queensland group were the other bidders for the zoo animals, which activists feared were suffering through cramped conditions in their Coolangatta compounds.

The Hare Krisna World’s general manager Brian Salter revealed that he was negotiating to buy the animals, including a grizzly bear, lions and tigers.

And it was believed that Bill Maughan, 79, the managing director of Sirex Pty, which owned the zoo, favoured the animals staying in the TweedGold Coast area.

Coolangatta realtor Adrian Maher, who sold the site, backed the Krishna movement in their bid to take over the fate of the zoo animals.

“No one would look after them better than these people,” Mr Maher said.

“They have a track record of showing care to animals. I have been to their Krishna World headquarters twice … and I can say it is amazing.

“The Hare Krishnas want to keep the animals in the Tweed Valley and I hope they succeed.

“It would be a tremendous asset because they have the space with about 1000 acres out there. It would be a shame if the animals were taken out of the region”.