Village lionkeeper wants more room for his big cats
PLANS FOR EXTENSION TO ANIMAL ENCLOSURE
STRELLEY Village lionkeeper Reece Oliver has revealed plans to build a new den for his big cats - saying the extension is vital for the welfare of his animals.
African lions Rocky and Rora are kept in a converted horsebox within a stable and 29-year-old Mr Oliver wants to construct a separate “lions’ den” to allow easier access to an enlarged enclosure area.
He has submitted plans to the council and a statement within his application states the den is important “as the lions approach a mature size and need more space for animal welfare reasons”.
Speaking of the project, fullylicensed keeper Mr Oliver said: “They’re in their own lions’ enclosure, just inside the stables building.
“It’s just to make their enclosure bigger so they have more room, making it nicer and better for the animals’ welfare.
“It’s very important, it’s something which they need to survive.”
The proposals involve extending the stables to the west of the site, while also extending the existing enclosure by building 3m high internal fencing to the perimeter of a field, north of the stable block.
The new fencing is designed to have “steel crank-topped brackets connected by five strands of steel wire to prevent climbing”.
“The fence follows the outer perimeter of the field directly north of the stables and will contain the current caged area.
“This form of fencing is widely used in safari parks and zoos, such as Whipsnade and Yorkshire Wildlife Park, who have been advising on the design,” a planning statement adds.
Proposals for Mr Oliver’s big cat enclosure were retrospectively approved by Broxtowe Borough Council in 2019, but alterations were made to it.
Plans Mr Oliver put forward last year to retain safety features installed within it have since been formally given the go-ahead.
A spokeswoman for the borough council added: “The application to retain alterations to the enclosure was granted permission on October 1, 2020, after being approved by planning committee. The current application has a target date of March 17.”
The two lions, now both about two years old, were rescued from a European circus.
Mr Oliver also looks after his Canadian Puma, Rogue, now roughly four years old, who he took on from a Lincolnshire rescue centre.
It comes after he met Ross Kemp for talks last year over work after the actor was spotted in the area.