Lynx strangled at zoo that lost other big cat
Petition calls for closure of ‘hobby zoo’ where animal died days after another had to be shot dead
A ZOO widely criticised after its lynx Lillith escaped and had to be shot dead is facing calls to close after admitting that a second lynx was accidentally strangled to death.
Campaigners have launched a petition calling for Borth Wild Animal Kingdom in West Wales, which they describe as a “hobby zoo”, to be shut down. The Lynx UK Trust claimed its owners had “no understanding of wild animal behaviour or welfare needs”.
Dean and Tracey Tweedy, who purchased the attraction earlier this year, admitted that Nilly, an adult female lynx who was unrelated to Lillith but shared an enclosure with it, was accidentally killed last week.
The tragedy happened as staff attempted to move it to “a more suitable enclosure” after being given 24 hours’ notice of an inspection. The zoo said in a statement: “Unfortunately, there seems to have been a terrible handling error where it seems she twisted in the catch-pole and became asphyxiated.
“An internal investigation is under way, and a key member of staff has been unable to work since the ordeal as they are truly devastated by what has happened. The authorities were notified after the incident and will be carrying out their own full investigation.”
Mr Tweedy expressed anger with the Lynx UK Trust, insisting he and his wife had ploughed everything they had into the project. The family, who had 30 pets at their home in Kent before they to moved to Wales, have admitted they “didn’t have much of an idea” what they were doing when they bought the zoo.
A police helicopter with thermal imaging technology, baited traps and heat-seeking drones were all employed in a major hunt for Lillith, who escaped last month.
But the 18-month-old wildcat was shot dead by a council-hired marksman last week, prompting a huge row over her “cruel and unnecessary” fate.
The Tweedys, who had insisted she posed no threat to the public, expressed outrage that she had been killed and vowed to fight the local council for justice “every step of the way”.
She was confirmed miss- ing on Oct 29 and until last Thursday, was believed to have remained within the zoo’s perimeter fence. But her fate was sealed when she was spotted asleep under a caravan in a local holiday park, closed for the winter season. Ceredigion County Council said the risk to the community had “increased from moderate to severe” and that it was necessary to act decisively and “humanely destroy” the animal. The council’s announcement was met with howls of protest from animal rights campaigners, the public and local councillors who questioned why Lillith had not been shot with a tranquilliser.
Dr Paul O’donoghue, director and scientific adviser for the Lynx UK Trust, criticised the zoo owners for failing to spot that Lillith was missing for up to six days and for keeping five lynx in the same enclosure.
He said: “What if it had been Borth’s crocodile that escaped? Or their two lions?
“How long are we going to let these hobby zoos run by amateurs keep operating? Will it take the death of a human for someone to take action?”
The Tweedys acknowledged that there were serious issues with how some of their animals were housed but said they had been working hard to make “vast improvements”.
They said the zoo would remain closed until further notice.
A spokesman for Ceredigion County Council said it was investigating the death of the second lynx.