The findings of an inspection into a zoo that has been plagued by controversy are set to come under the spotlight at a council meeting.
A special council inspection was undertaken in response to reports received, over recent months, from the Zoo Investment Company, the landlord, as well from animal welfare organisation Born Free Foundation.
The reports highlighted concerns that Zoo Investment Company had about the management of South Lakes Safari Zoo, managed by Cumbria Zoo Company Ltd and its compliance with the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.
The Born Free Foundation report stemmed from an unannounced visit to the zoo in October after the organisation had received reports of concern regarding the animals at the safari zoo.
The zoo responded to the council’s concerns and said: “Overall, we feel that the council’s inspection findings support our assertion that the claims made by the Born Free Foundation and Zoo Investment Company are unfounded and without merit.
“What’s made clear in this report is that we continue to provide fully compliant veterinary care in line with nationally recognised standards, no significant welfare issues are identified, and our zoo records are well kept. Of course, there is always room for improvement, and we are taking additional steps to address the above matters.
“We have been on a journey of continual improvement since we took over running the zoo in 2017 and it is a totally different place today.
“Our whole team works tirelessly to ensure we achieve exemplary veterinary care and that animal welfare is at the heart of our operations. Furthermore, we have a clear and credible plan to continue investing in the zoo to provide an even better environment for the amazing animals in our care. We look forward to an opportunity to share these plans soon.”
The council report produced following the assessment of the zoo on November 17 of last year said that rodents had been found in ‘multiple areas’ at the site and that rhinos spent a ‘significant proportion’ of their time in restricted stables.
However, it did say the animal enclosures were maintained in a way that ‘appears to meet the secretary of state’s standards of modern zoo practice’ and that animals requiring medical attention received ‘appropriate levels of care in a timely manner’.
The November inspection of the zoo, which is located near Dalton, was carried out by Ivor Churcher, commercial team leader at Barrow Borough Council, and Dr Matthew Brash, the borough council’s professional veterinary advisor.
The report produced by Dr Brash is to be considered by a meeting of the borough council’s licensing regulatory committee on Thursday.
Despite concerns raised by the Zoo Investment Company over the ‘presence of considerable quantities of faeces’ within the rhino stables and ‘the lack of visible food or water’, Dr Brash said there was no evidence the animals were not regularly cleaned out and that they appeared to be provided with sufficient food and water.
Dr Brash said a door to the keepers’ kitchen remained open throughout the day and provided ‘easy access for pests such as birds, rodents and flies’.
However, he noted there being no evidence of rodent faeces within the keepers’ kitchen – although there was an unoccupied bird nest above the food preparation area.
“There was no evidence of rubbish or scrap within animal enclosures,” said the report. “Nor was there evidence of rubbish or scrap in public areas that may prove a hazard to the visiting public.”
Dr Brash concluded that ‘a safe and effective programme’ for pest and vermin control needed to be established throughout the zoo.
He said Cumbria Zoo Company needed to provide grazing opportunities for all of the zoo’s rhinos for ‘most of the year’ without resorting to a ‘time-share’ rotation system that limited the animals’ time outdoors.
Cumbria Zoo Company, in its response to Dr Brash’s report, described the rodent situation as ‘an ongoing and live issue’.
“We feel have a proactive approach to pest issues, the inspector has not highlighted anything we are not aware of,” said a spokesman.
