TV star has a swipe at NZ zoos
British TV star Martin Clunes has taken a swing at Kiwi zoos, claiming New Zealand is “backwards” and wishes “they’d shut all zoos”.
The Doc Martin and Men Behaving
Badly star turned nature documentary maker has travelled all over the globe filming a series of programmes looking at some of the world’s most beloved and endangered animals.
In an interview with the Telegraph,
Clunes noted his dissatisfaction of how animals are treated around the globe.
But the actor then took a swipe at New Zealand, claiming our zoos are “awful” and that he wishes they’d be “shut down”.
“You do get some surprises. I would say New Zealand is really backwards with its zoos – awful places for such a modern country,” he told the Telegraph.
“I wish they’d just shut all the bloody zoos, let those animals die, the ones that can’t be rehomed.”
However, his comments have angered both the Wellington Zoo CEO and Zoo Aquarium Australasia.
Wellington Zoo chief executive Karen Fifield told the Herald Clunes’ comments were ill-informed and ignored New Zealand zoos’ conservation efforts.
“I am not sure which New Zealand zoos Mr Clunes visited, but . . . New Zealand zoos are staffed by professional experts in animal husbandry and welfare with more qualifications and experience in this area than I suggest Mr Clunes has.”