Demand closure of UK zoo where 486 animals died

A zoo in Cumbria where nearly 500 animals died in less than four years has been granted a new licence by the local authority.

In February a damning report on conditions at South Lakes Safari zoo in Dalton-in-Furness said 486 animals died of causes including emaciation and hypothermia between December 2013 and September 2016.

The founder of the zoo, David Gill, was refused a licence to run the zoo in March after handing responsibility for the business to a new company, Cumbria Zoo Company Ltd, in January.

The company applied for a licence to run the attraction, which was accepted by Barrow borough council’s licensing regulatory committee on Tuesday.

The Captive Animals Society has been critical of the change of management, describing it as inadequate. “Four out of eight of the new directors of Cumbria Zoo Ltd are past directors or key managers at South Lakes Safari zoo,” it said.

“The CEO of Cumbria zoo, Karen Brewer, has been present at South Lakes Safari zoo inspections as far back as 2011. At these inspections, inspectors have raised varying degrees of animal welfare concerns and deaths.”

Responding to Tuesday’s decision, Maddy Taylor from the charity said: “Some improvements may have been made in recent months, but it is not a new zoo. There is a history of suffering and neglect.”

This zoo needs to be closed now and the animals need to be rehomed in other zoos and safari parks.

The findings above are from an article in the guardian.