Zoo denial over dead racehorse

TASMANIAN wildlife park Zoo Doo says it feeds horse meat to its lions, but the company denied any part in throwing a dead racehorse into the lions’ den.

During the Racing Budget Estimates hearing on Thursday, Greens leader Cassy O’Connor questioned why the death of a racehorse last week wasn’t reported to the Office of Racing Integrity (ORI).

Under the Australian Rules of Racing there are reporting requirements in relation to the deaths of horses. Ms O’Connor said a “racing industry insider” told the Greens about the disposal of a racing horse’s carcass at Zoo Doo Wildlife Park, which Zoo Doo denied.

“The allegation is that a racing horse died at Brighton last Friday night and there was no vet called,’’ Ms O’Connor said.

“We were told it was taken to a local zoo where it was fed to the lions. It is extremely concerning. We need to understand if this is standard operating procedure for subsectors within the racing industry.”

The Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment said the ORI was investigating the allegation. A DPIPWE spokesman didn’t confirm yesterday if the horse’s carcass had been located but said “the ongoing investigation by ORI staff indicated that the carcass was buried”.

Zoo Doo director Donna Cuttriss-Smith said the company had wrongly been “dragged through the dirt”. “The allegations being made are false,” she said.

“Our lions are fed primarily beef, some horse does get fed here, but we’ve had nothing to do with what is being alleged.”

Ms O’Connor questioned why the ORI couldn’t confirm if a carcass was found.

Racing Minister Elise Archer was contacted for comment.