Anger over the zoo where children play tug of war … with lions
IT hardly sounds like a foolproof halfterm activity – so perhaps it’s little wonder a zoo has been branded ‘moronic’ for letting eight-year-olds play tug of war against lions and tigers.
Dartmoor Zoo’s ‘ human versus beast’ challenge invites four people at a time to pay £15 each to battle against a big cat. Launched this month, it is open to visitors aged over eight and involves Jasiri, an African lion weighing 35st, and Amur tiger Dragan, a species that can reach 50st.
Meat is attached to a chain to bait the animals into grabbing it and participants – on the other side of a fence – then pull on a rope at their end. Zookeepers claim the experience helps the animals ‘work for their food and build muscle mass’.
But a petition signed by 2,000 is calling for the ‘cruel’ attraction to be banned, claiming the animals are ‘turned into a novelty plaything for tourists’.
One critic posted: ‘Is this for real? What moron thought that this was a good idea?’ Dr Chris Draper, from animal welfare charity Born Free, said: ‘There is an important distinction to be drawn between efforts to keep animals temporarily occupied while in captivity and stunts or money-making gimmicks.’
Owner Benjamin Mee – whose experience of setting up the Devon attraction inspired 2011 film We Bought A Zoo, starring Matt Damon – said: ‘People are making a fuss about nothing. The lion loves it. The public like it and it’s working well.’
Safety concerns have been raised over zoos after two tiger deaths this month. One was killed at Longleat Safari Park when it entered a paddock which held two mating tigers. Days earlier, a female tiger was mauled to death at London Zoo.