A new audit indicates that Britain’s ‘worst zoo,’ where nearly 500 animals perished within three years and a keeper was mauled to death by a tiger almost a decade ago, still fails to meet’minimum animal welfare criteria.’
The South Lakes Safari Zoo in Lindal In Furness, Cumbria, was found to have a number of cleanliness and animal care issues after an investigation by the Born Free Foundation.
The charity, which conducted an inspection on October 17, has demanded the zoo’s closure, telling MailOnline that the zoo has “given sufficient time to take corrective action.”
Raw meat was found in a bucket covered with flies outside the tiger’s enclosure, rats were found in the raccoon and turtle cages, and rhinos were housed in stables so small they could only turn around, according to a scathing investigation.
As a result of improper temperature settings, ‘cold’ monkeys can be seen clutching to heat bulbs in a series of dismal images portraying the deplorable living conditions of some of the animals. A heartbreaking photograph displays a turtle carrying a sloth on its back while they appear to huddle together for warmth.
Elsewhere, a macaw is observed with “extensive feather loss around its neck and no remaining feathers on the top of its head,” while a brown bear is discovered with its head hanging out of a small window in its den.
According to the research, there was sometimes no personnel present in enclosures where the public may contact with “Category 1 hazardous species” – a designation for zoos referring to predators such as tigers, lions, elephants, and lynx.
Sarah McClay, a keeper from Glasgow, was fatally mauled by a tiger at the zoo in 2013, triggering charges of incompetence. Later, supervisors were fined £297,500 for safety infractions.
Additionally, according to a research conducted by the council in 2017, 486 animals perished between December 2013 and September 2016. While the Barrow Borough Council review from the previous year demonstrated “excellent” progress, inspectors highlighted that “much work remains.”
Born Free has now denounced the zoo for cleanliness issues and alleges that animals have been secluded, frozen, and deprived of outside access.
A visitor to the South Lakes Safari Zoo feeds a giraffe some carrots. A distressing investigation found that giraffes were fed “wrong quantities of carrots” rather than natural dietary components such as leaves, with one visitor watching 52 visitors feeding the animals.
A juvenile monkey clings to the netting beneath a heat lamp at the zoo because of fear that its home is inadequately heated.
The South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria (pictured) was found to have numerous cleanliness and animal care issues following an investigation by the international wildlife charity Born Free Foundation.
At the zoo, a macaw is observed with extensive feather loss around its neck and no residual feathers on its head.
At the Safari Lakes Zoo in Cumbria, a tortoise and a sloth huddle together beneath a heat light.
Despite being a herd animal, zebras were divided into individual stalls and left without bedding or heating for the night, according to Born Free.
During an inspection earlier this month at the South Lakes Safari Zoo, a brown bear peers out of a small window.
According to reports, rhinos were kept in stalls so small they could only turn around.
A bear in its enclosure at the South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria peers through a fence.
The zoo has been approached by MailOnline for comment.
The Born Free study states that some rhinos were confined to “small stalls” with only enough space to turn around and were not given access to outdoor space.
It was stated that despite being a herd animal, zebras were kept in solitary stalls with no bedding or heating during the night.
The charity alleged that flies-covered raw meat was left in a bucket outside the tiger enclosure in full view of visitors.
According to the article, some rhinos may have no access to the outside during the day. In certain situations, they are confined to stalls so small that they can barely turn around.
“Despite being a species that lives in herds, each zebra looks to be isolated into a separate stall and possibly kept indoors all day.”
“The zebra may then remain confined overnight, even in the winter, but no bedding or heating was observed in the outside shelter,”
The zoo’s failure to keep animals in their normal social groups persists.
A female giraffe was observed with “very enlarged and twisted hooves,” according to the study.
It was stated that giraffes were being fed “inappropriate quantities of carrots” as opposed to natural nutritional items such as leaves, with one visitor observing 52 visitors feeding the animals.
A rat is depicted within a cage behind a tortoise.
Outside the tiger enclosure, raw meat is dumped into a pail.
According to the report, and posing a severe health and safety danger, there was frequently no staff present in enclosures where the public might interact with “Category 1 hazardous species,” which include tigers, lions, elephants, and lynx.
A female giraffe was observed with “very enlarged and twisted hooves,” according to the study.
At the South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria, visitors approach a capybara up close.
Visitors congregate around two giraffes, feeding them carrots.
A photo of a monkey in its enclosure at the South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria is shown.
The paper said, ‘All giraffes were observed engaging in a variety of oral behaviors throughout the day, most likely as a result of an insufficient browse supply.
‘A few branches were supplied in the morning, but they were not replaced throughout the inspection.
It appears that this was done to encourage giraffes to participate in activities where visitors pay to feed them excessive quantities of carrots, as opposed to natural nutritional items such as leaves and stems.
During one visitor experience session, at least 52 visitors fed two male giraffes a handful of carrots.
Born Free stated that there was a dearth of visible enrichment around the zoo and that the heat provided was substandard.
A number of monkeys were observed clinging to the mesh to get as close as possible to the heat lamps, according to the report.
A sloth was observed hanging to mesh mere inches above the ground in order to reach a heat lamp meant for tortoises, which were also attempting to reach the lamp.
These data strongly suggest that the ambient temperature in these enclosures is unsuitable for the occupant species.
The organization said that hygienic practices during the provision of animal food fell “far short of the necessary requirements.”
Raw meat was observed in a bucket outside the tiger cage on the inside of the keeper gate, according to the report.
A visitor at the South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria is separated from a kangaroo by a tiny fence.
It follows the 2013 death of Sarah McClay, a keeper from Glasgow who was killed by a tiger. Later, the zoo was fined £297,500 for health and safety violations.
Numerous visitors line up to feed giraffes despite worries that the animals are being fed excessively.
This was covered with flies and exposed to visitors who could have easily come into contact with it.
Rats were discovered in the enclosures of raccoons and tortoises.
In a number of ways, the zoo continues to fall short of even the most fundamental animal welfare and visitor safety norms, in our opinion.
Born Free sent a letter to the Barrow Borough Council to express their concerns in writing.
Chris Lewis, Born Free’s Captivity Research Officer, told MailOnline: ‘Since obtaining a license under new management, there appear to have been efforts to enhance certain zoo areas.
‘However, based on our observations, animal living conditions and associated procedures continue to fall short of the standards required by the Zoo Licensing Act of 1981 or the Secretary of State’s Standards for Modern Zoo Practice in a number of aspects.
‘The zoo has been plagued with problems since 2013 and they persist to this day. Therefore, the zoo’s management has had ample time to implement corrective measures, and it is our firm belief that the zoo’s license should be terminated.’
It stated, “Every effort should be taken to provide the best possible ongoing care for the animals now housed at the institution, either through urgent modifications to their current living conditions under new management or by relocating those animals to more suitable housing.”
A spokesperson for the Barrow Borough Council stated, “I can confirm that the council received a report from Born Free concerning the South Lakes Safari Zoo.”
“The difficulties identified in their report are comparable to reports that the council has lately received directly.”
We will engage with the Zoo to address claims of this sort.
‘Any enforcement-related matters will be submitted during a license hearing, if required.’
During a Barrow Borough Council inspection last year, inspectors were “impressed” with the improvements made since the previous visit, but noted that “more work remains.”
Following the most recent inspection conducted by the council earlier this year, zoo administrators were instructed to increase the security of cages out of concern that baboons could escape.