Outrage over wolf shot dead after escaping wildlife park
ANIMAL lovers were outraged yesterday after Ember the wolf was shot dead by park-keepers just weeks after having five cubs.
She was killed after escaping from her pen at a wildlife park and getting past an electric fence.
Parkgoer Florence Macdonald posted: “It’s not euthanasia, it’s murder. Maybe if you didn’t keep nonhumans as prisoners they wouldn’t be trying to escape.”
Anna-Marie Coster
“This all comes down to human error once again. There is NO excuse for not using a tranquiliser.”
Animal rights group Peta said: “Wolves are generally timid animals who avoid humans. posted:
Poisoned
“Disgusting.
“But rather than attempting to capture Ember, a eurasian wolf, keepers shot her dead, orphaning her pups.”
Park bosses said they were “devastated” by the death of three-year-old Ember, who in May became the first wolf to give birth at Cotswold Wildlife Park for 47 years after mating with a two-year-old called Ash.
They said she had been too far away for them to use a tranquilliser dart.
In a Facebook post they said: “Had there been any way to save her we would, of course, have taken it. Euthanasia is, and always would be, our last resort.
“The safety of our visitors, and the public, has to be our priority and our keepers were put in the unenviable position of making a decision that no animal lover should have to make.
“Our staff have dedicated their lives to caring for animals and their conservation, and work tirelessly to allow visitors to experience many majestic animals at close quarters.
“We have taken measures to increase our already robust enclosure security checks, to ensure there can be no repeat.
“We would also like to honour Ember and the pleasure she gave to so many visitors.
“Her death is felt by all who had the pleasure to know her.”
The drama unfolded on Friday morning after Ember – a eurasian wolf from Sweden – was found wandering outside the perimeter fence of the 160-acre Oxfordshire park, not far from the busy A361.
Park spokeswoman Debbie Ryan said visitors and other staff were notified immediately and those indoors were asked to remain where they were.
She added: “At no time were members of the public in any danger. To say we are devastated is an understatement.”
Meanwhile, it has emerged that eight Humboldt penguins were recently slaughtered by a fox that got into their enclosure at Chessington World of Adventures in Surrey.
And three African Pygmy goats died at a children’s zoo in Warrington, Cheshire, when yobs broke in and poisoned a herd of 12 with rhododendron leaves.