Call to close zoo where 500 animals died in five years
seVen healthy lion cubs were put down at just five days old at a zoo where almost 500 animals have died in five years, it emerged yesterday.
The cubs were subjected to ‘management euthanasia’ at south lakes safari Zoo in Cumbria last summer because it did not have enough space for them.
A jaguar was put down after it chewed off its paw, two snow leopards were found partially eaten in their enclosure, a rhino was crushed to death by its partner and a monkey’s body was found behind a radiator.
Animal welfare charities said the catalogue of deaths and injuries was among the worst in decades at a British zoo. They said the zoo – where a keeper was mauled to death by a tiger in 2013 – should be closed.
Details of the animal deaths emerged in inspectors’ reports submitted to Barrow Borough Council which will decide next week whether the zoo’s licence can be renewed. Maddie Taylor, of the Captive Animal protection society, said: ‘our visit to the zoo combined with the zoo inspectors’ reports shows high death rates of animals, animals in ill health and a lack of understanding about how to meet even the most basic needs of the animals. We urge the local authority to close this appalling zoo down.’
Three tiger deaths are reported including that of padang, the 14-year- old sumatran tiger which mauled keeper sarah McClay, 24, to death in May 2013 as she cleaned its enclosure. When it was ‘culled’ last March the zoo’s millionaire founder David Gill wrote online that the decision had been taken on the advice of veterinary experts. However documents reveal that the zoo’s vet was instructed to kill padang by Mr Gill with ‘no notes as to the reason’.
last year the zoo was ordered to pay £255,000 in fines after admitting to health and safety failings which resulted in Miss McClay’s death.
According to the reports submitted to Barrow Borough Council, poor management, emaciation and hypothermia are among the reasons for the above average mortality rate, in addition to trauma and infighting caused by overstocked pens.
They also reveal cases of keepers still being placed at risk.
Chris Draper, of the Born free foundation, said: ‘i sincerely hope the licensing authority refuse a zoo licence.’
south lakes safari Zoo, which has around 250,000 visitors a year, says it is under new management and although Mr Gill owns the site he no longer has any active involvement in how it is run. The zoo remains popular with visitors and 2,193 out of 2,624 reviewers on TripAdvisor rate it ‘very good’ or ‘excellent’.