A damning report claims a South Cumbrian zoo is allowing its animals to suffer.
International animal charity Born Free, says urgent action needs to be taken over the conditions at Safari Zoo, near Ulverston.
It carried out an undercover investigation at the Lindal-in-Furness zoo after it received 13 reports by concerned visitors.
The charity sent its report to Barrow Borough Council. The authority said it had also received concerns directly and would work with the zoo to address them.
Born Free claimed its investigation found animals in distress, showing signs of mental illness and living in unsuitable conditions.
The charity added the zoo was their most complained about facility in the UK, which prompted the investigation.
Born Free’s report claimed:
- Herd animals such as zebras were isolated in individual cages
- A bear was found exhibiting signs of zoochosis
- A bucket of raw meat was spotted covered in flies
- Rats were seen mixing with the animals
- Giraffes had overgrown and curved hooves
- Some animals had no outdoor access during the day and had no bedding
- Heat provisions were unsuitable
Chris Lewis, captivity research officer at Born Free, visited the zoo. He said: “Ultimately, it’s the animals that are suffering here. They’re the ones that aren’t being provided with the necessary welfare and are showing signs of distress.
“There does seem to have been some improvement, but there are clearly still issues there which have not been resolved.”
Cumbria Zoo Company Ltd runs the venue. It was initially granted a licence in 2017 after it took control from zoo founder David Gill. Cumbria Zoo Company was given a six-year renewal of the licence last year.
In his report, Mr Lewis said an Andean bear was found exhibiting signs of zoochosis, a form of psychosis that develops in animals held captive.
The report said: “The bear was seen repeatedly sitting and swaying in front of the same section of fence and testing the electric fence with its paw.”
The report added that up to 52 visitors were seen feeding giraffes carrots – an unnatural food for the beasts and forcing the animals to bend down a lot.
He also alleged hygiene at the zoo was poor and that a bucket of raw meat was spotted covered in flies in sight, and reach, of the public and that rats were seen mixing with the animals.
He also claimed some animals had no outdoor access at all during the day, due to herds of rhinos and zebras sharing the same paddock, but being unable to mix.
He added a macaw parrot was also seen in the aviary with severe feather loss around its neck and a lack on top of its head, and that a number of enclosures had old dead Christmas trees inside them.
The report added there were also several health and safety issues posing a risk to the public around the zoo.
He claimed in walk-through enclosures around the zoo, the public were left unsupervised around hazardous animals, and people were seen cornering animals and throwing food at them, causing them distress.
Mr Lewis added: “There’s a number of areas that could pose a safety risk in our opinion to the public. Stand-off barriers should prevent the public coming into contact with animals and electric fences.
“But there were several areas that made this possible, the giraffes have a slack fire hose as a stand-off barrier – I could easily step over it or press up against it, it’s flexible, the giraffe could have easily swung their head and hit me if they felt threatened.”
Mr Lewis added: “You would like to think somebody is going to step in but it just doesn’t seem to happen. This is why we carried out this investigation, to shine a light on it and say something has to be done.”
The charity has written to Barrow Borough Council to ask it to take urgent action and conduct a special investigation into the zoo. They have also written to the zoo directly.
Mr Lewis said the process of inspecting the zoo was down to the council, which makes decisions on the future of the zoo.
Mr Lewis added: “The council have the power here. I would encourage them to carry out an inspection as soon as possible and if they agree with what we found they can then issue corrective measures in the time provided.”
A council spokesman said: “I can confirm that the council received a report from Born Free in regards to the South Lakes Safari Zoo. The issues raised in their report are similar to reports recently received directly to the council.
“We take allegations of this nature seriously and will work with the zoo to address them. Any enforcement matters will be reported at a licensing hearing, should that be necessary.”
Samantha Brewer, of the Cumbria Zoo Company which runs the Safari Zoo, said: “These allegations are of the utmost seriousness. We refute all allegations made by the Born Free Foundation from their visit to the zoo of October 17 and their subsequent report on their website.”
