Police and council quiz staff over Rosa death

system needs to be upgraded to ensure that all relevant staff can be contacted simultaneously”. It also criticised escape procedures.

The zoo was granted a new licence only on condition that it upgraded its systems.

Councils have powers under the Zoos Licencing Act 1981 to close down facilities.

Chris Draper, associate director at animal charity Born Free, said: “Born Free is calling for an urgent re-evaluation of the zoo licensing and inspection process in the UK.

“We need to establish a full-time, truly independent zoo inspectorate to undertake more frequent inspections.”

Hamerton Zoo Park opened in June 1990 and covers 25 acres. It opened a new enclosure for its Malaysian tigers last July.

In October 2008 a cheetah which escaped from the zoo was found by a nine-year-old boy in the back garden of his family home.