The firm which runs a South Cumbrian zoo says a damning report claiming animal welfare is at risk is not true and it was committed to caring for them.
International charity Born Free visited Safari Zoo, in Lindal-in-Furness, on October 17 in an undercover sting after it had been contacted 13 times by people concerned about the conditions.
Chris Lewis, of the charity, took photographs and Born Free compiled a report – which it sent to Barrow council, as the zoo’s licensing authority, and urged that urgent action was taken.
But 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.”
Born Free alleged:
- Herd animals such as zebras were isolated in individual cages
- A bear was found exhibiting signs of zoochosis – a form of psychosis that develops in captive animals.
- 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
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.
It 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.
Chris Lewis, Born Free’s captivity research officer, visited the venue. 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.
However, Ms Brewer said: “We welcome Born Free and any opinions on the zoo, Born Free are an organisation that stands for what they believe and we have nothing but respect for that, and the principles on which the organisation is built.
“In 2022 species are disappearing right left and centre and zoos are at the forefront of trying to, and successfully changing, that. Our team recently returned from a trip to see first hand where anti poaching dogs, trained here at Cumbria zoo, together with their handlers and on the ground NGOs are actually making a significant stance in the fight to reduce wildlife eradication.
“During our trip, a leading conservationist told our staff soon the only way a child in South Africa will see a rhino with a horn is in a zoo, God forbid this turns out to be the case.
“This zoo, like others, are committed in 2022 and beyond to direct conservation on the ground, and to enriching the lives of the much loved animals in our care.
“The report contains inaccurate presumptions and, understandably, inaccurate clinical assessment.
“Cumbria Zoo has, in our last four years, been inspected by over 35 government appointed independent inspectors with the overwhelming outcomes of those inspections being hugely positive, and the continuing progress we make here at Safari Zoo recognised.”
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.”
