South Lakes Safari Zoo

South Lakes Safari Zoo

Date opened	28 May 1994
Location	Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, England
Coordinates	54°10′00″N 3°10′07″W / 54.1666°N 3.1686°W / 54.1666; -3.1686Coordinates: 54°10′00″N 3°10′07″W / 54.1666°N 3.1686°W / 54.1666; -3.1686
Land area	51-acre (21 ha)
Number of animals	1,000+ (pre expansion)
Number of species	150+ (pre expansion)
Memberships	EAZA[1]
Website	southlakessafarizoo.com

South Lakes Safari Zoo (formerly South Lakes Wild Animal Park) is a 51-acre (21 ha) zoo established in 1994 by David Gill, and located in Cumbria, England. Named as such after its proximity to the world-renowned Lake District it lies entirely within the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness on the outskirts of Dalton.

The park is a member of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA) but was thrown out of British and Irish Association of Zoos & Aquariums (BIAZA) for failure to comply with the rules, regulations and with the laws that govern UK zoo. The zoo bills itself as one of the best conservation zoos in the country but this is a comment that has been self-made by the owner David Gill, with a number of registered charities based in there. Visitor numbers stood at 309,000 in 2011.^[2] As of 2016, the zoo has undergone a multimillion-pound expansion, which saw the introduction of new animals, increased space for current species and additional visitor facilities. The zoo expanded to the east incorporating a new entrance and car park directly accessible by the A590 road.^[3]

History

The zoo was opened by David S Gill and his family in 1994 on converted farmland. Construction started in 1993, and the park was officially opened on 28 May 1994.^[4]

Until recently it was the only zoo in Britain to hold both Siberian tigers (also known as Amur tigers) and Sumatran tigers (the world's smallest and largest tigers). It has successfully bred the critically endangered Sumatran tiger. In 2008, the Park celebrated one of the biggest births in its history - white rhino Nyala born on 1 June 2008. Zimba, born on 11 September 2008, was the second white rhino born at the park. The zoo once held the largest collection of kangaroos outside of Australia, and still has many kangaroos.

The zoo has been awarded the "Top Attraction for Excellence in the Lake District 1999, 2000, 2003, 2005, and 2008" by Cumbria Tourist Board, and is one of the few parks to let many species of primates including the eight species of lemur roam free around the park. In 2014, in its twentieth year the park changed its name from South Lakes Wild Animal Park to South Lakes Safari Zoo, the park also made the top ten of TripAdvisor's highest rated zoos and aquariums in the UK.^[5]

Expansion and Legal Issues

In May 2009, the zoo announced an expansion plan that would increase the park size from 17 acres (6.9 ha) to about 51 acres (21 ha). It is hoped that transportation links and park retail outlets can be improved considerably to make it one of the region's most profitable attractions. The expansion will introduce new species of animals, and create larger enclosures for the animals at the zoo. The zoo's two conservation charities are also likely to receive larger donations as the overall visitor capacity of the park is increased.^[6]

Plans for this expansion were rejected by Barrow Borough Council's planning committee in 2010, largely due to concerns about traffic problems due to the proposed new entrance from the U6097 a minor off road of the A590, but after an appeal to the Planning Inspectorate, they were approved in February 2012. Fifteen new jobs are set to be created by the expansion, and park owner David Gill has pledged to use only local contractors to carry out the development.^[7] Work began on the expansion in 2014 and has already seen the introduction of a number of new species.^[8]

On the 17 December 2015 it was announced via the park's Facebook page that it would be closing as of the 9 January 2016, this was later postponed to 11 January 2016 on 29 December 2015. Park management stated this was due to ongoing disagreements with Barrow Borough Council including concerns over the safety of the parks walkways. This, alongside two other issues, was the subject of discussion during a meeting by the Council's Regulatory Licensing Committee.^[9]

Conflicting reports on whether the closure is permanent have been reported, many people were told over the phone by zoo staff members it was part of an alleged publicity stunt to gain support for an appeal against the council's decisions and it will indeed reopen in February 2016.^[10] A subsequent press release in January 2016 revealed the intentions of park owner David Gill to retire from his managerial position, handing over responsibility to the Safari Zoo Nature Foundation. It is expected that work will be undertaken to ensure the park reopens in April 2016 to coincide with the completion of the expansion which will also include a 'Natural History Museum' exhibition.^[11]

An animal park owner in Cumbria has been fined for allowing a "threatening" bird to escape. South Lakes Wild Animal Park owner David Gill, 53, had denied personal responsibility for letting a sacred ibis fly from the zoo near Dalton-in-Furness to nearby beaches three times. But he was fined £2,000 at Kendal Magistrates' Court and the company was fined a further £5,000. Gill was convicted of three offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.^[12]

On 7 January 2016, within a month of the original closure announcement, the zoo stated its intentions to remain open throughout repair works.

A zoo where a keeper was mauled to death by a tiger has been fined for health and safety breaches. Sarah McClay, 24, originally from Glasgow, died at South Lakes Wild Animal Park in Dalton-in-Furness, south Cumbria, in May 2013. A Sumatran tiger, which got through an unlocked gate, left deep puncture wounds in her neck and body. The zoo, now known as South Lakes Safari Zoo, was fined £297,500 at Preston Crown Court. Some £42,500 of the fine was imposed for health and safety law breaches, which the company admitted, relating to when a zoo keeper fell from a ladder while preparing to feed big cats in July 2014. The zoo must also pay £150,000 prosecution costs over the next 10 years. It had previously pleaded guilty to contravening the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and failing to ensure people who were not staff were not exposed to risk on the day in question. It accepted it had not sufficiently addressed risks arising from a defective bolt on the door that was open immediately before the attack. The zoo's owner, David Gill, 55, had faced individual charges on the same allegations but was formally acquitted.^[13]

Councillors have refused to renew the licence of the owner and founder of South Lakes Safari Zoo. Barrow Borough Council's licensing committee spent three days considering David Gill's request. But the council refused permission for the extension after inspectors raised concerns about "out-of-date practices". Karen Brewer, the zoo's chief executive officer, said great strides had been made to improve the zoo and keep it the "unique attraction" it is. Whoever takes over running the zoo must apply for a new licence within the next six months. Mr Gill first received a licence to run the zoo in May 1994, when the attraction consisted of 290 animals on 12 acres with about 200 visitors a day. Now the zoo is home to more than 1,000 animals across 50 acres, attracting more than 250,000 visitors and generating £3m a year.^[14][15]

The current licence is held by Mr David Gill and expires at midnight on 7 January 2017.

S.2(1) Zoo Licensing Act 1981 requires that at least 2 months’ notice in writing is given to the local authority of any intention to make an application for a fresh zoo licence. In addition S.2(1) also requires the publication of a notice of intention to apply in both local and national newspapers and that this notice is exhibited on the site at the Zoo. This must all be done at least two months before making the application. In order to avoid closure of the zoo at this time [date of expiration of the licence] the latest date by which notification/publication and exhibiting of notice can be implemented is Monday, 7 November 2016. If a valid application is made before expiration of the current licence then it will continue in force until the application is disposed of or withdrawn. Currently there has been no valid or fresh application made. After the 7th November 2016 and up to 7 January 2017, South Lakes Safari Zoo or any name associated with this zoo shall be required to make arrangements to close the zoo and make ready for animal dispersal notice.

Barrow Borough Council

"The Inspector's stated:-

"The existing management structure of South Lakes Safari Zoo was not, in the Inspectors opinion, sufficiently robust to ensure that the SSSMZP were being delivered. Nor did it fulfil the requirements of the condition applied by the Inspectors back in November 2015. Information supporting this statement came from the interviews with the staff, from the records examined and observations made whilst walking around the Zoo."

In Report 1, the Inspectors had made the following comment in relation to Condition 39 in the "Additional space" section of the DEFRA Inspection Report form:-

"…it was evident that the robust management and staffing structure and the specific requirements for the (Condition 39) were not in place, ultimately leading to ongoing serious concerns over animal welfare, public safety and potential escapes. While recognising the very complex nature of events and situations, including future plans, leading to the current status of the Zoo at the time of inspection, the Inspectors’ findings indicated that failure to comply with Condition 39 was at the root of the majority of the ongoing issues. The Inspectors were very disappointed that many conditions had not been complied with, and with the number of problems detected during the inspection, resulting in the Zoo failing to comply with many of the SSSMZP. The ancillary report supplied further details."

In Report 2 – Special Inspection Ancillary Report the Inspectors comments were as follows in relation to Condition 2:-

"Not complied with. It is the Inspectors’ findings and opinion that the ongoing serious concerns over animal welfare, public safety and potential escapes are due fundamentally to both the animal husbandry/management regimes and philosophy (i.e. free-ranging mixed exhibits), and/or the inability by staff, including current management and the vet, to effectively influence or challenge these. Only when a management structure is properly implemented that is able to review current practices independently of the owner, will there be the ability to bring about significant change that will address these issues effectively and enable this Zoo to progress and realise its full potential." ^[16]

The current licence is held by Mr David Gill and expires at midnight on 7th January 2017.

S.2(1) Zoo Licensing Act 1981 requires that at least 2 months’ notice in writing is given to the local authority of any intention to make an application for a fresh zoo licence. In addition s.2(1) also requires the publication of a notice of intention to apply in both local and national newspapers and that this notice is exhibited on the site at the Zoo. This must all be done at least two months before making the application. In order to avoid closure of the zoo at this time [date of expiration of the licence] the latest date by which notification/publication and exhibiting of notice can be implemented is Monday, 7 November 2016. If a valid application is made before expiration of the current licence then it will continue in force until the application is disposed of or withdrawn.^[16]

Animal welfare concerns raised at Dalton zoo. ISSUES such as slippery surfaces and cold temperatures for animals at a south Cumbria zoo have been raised ahead of another crucial meeting.^[17][18]

Incidents and Accidents

Despite its short history, South Lakes Safari Zoo has been the site of several incidents and accidents that have in some cases been reported globally. In 1997 a three-ton white rhino escaped from its pen and was subsequently shot dead by owner David Gill in an adjacent field. He was fined £10,000 for failing to keep the animal adequately enclosed.^[19] In 1998, the zoo's Prairie Marmots were killed by rats which had fallen into their moated enclosure and been unable to get out.

In 2001, Lara Kitson, a pregnant employee of the zoo, won a case of sexual discrimination and constructive dismissal at a tribunal in Carlisle after she claimed that she was advised to terminate her pregnancy rather than fall short in her job.^[20] In 2007, David Gill survived a stabbing at his home on the premises of South Lakes Safari Zoo by Richard Creary, after an affair the latter's wife had with Gill. Creary was imprisoned for 5 years in 2008.^[21]

In 2008, 31 of the park's 120 lemurs died in a fire.^[22] The fire destroyed three of the wooden huts in which they were enclosed. A spokesman for the fire service said it was believed the lemurs died as a result of smoke inhalation, and park owner David Gill said that the fire was probably caused by a faulty electrical heater.^[23] The lemurs were usually allowed to roam the park at night, but had been enclosed because of the cold weather.^[24] Gill was able to save 13, including the belted ruffed and Alaotran gentle species, but many of ring tailed, red ruffed, white-fronted, and black species died in the blaze. Gill said that for staff, who knew many of the lemurs by name, the loss was "devastating", and also that the deaths were "not just a massive blow for the park but for the European Breeding Programmes the animals were involved with."^[22]

On 24 May 2013, Sarah McClay, a 24-year-old woman who had been working at the park, was mauled by a tiger during public feeding time and suffered serious injuries to her head and neck. She died later the same day at the Royal Preston Hospital.^[25] A statement issued by the Cumbria Police said that there was no suggestion of any foul play or any issue of suicide or self-harm. Investigations are ongoing, and police have confirmed that the death was the result of either "human or mechanical" error that led to the tiger entering the staff area of the pen.^[26] In 2014, during the investigation an environmental officer from Barrow Borough Council stated that a bolt on the door between the dark den and the keepers' corridor was found to be defective after the attack.^[27]

In 2015 David Gill received an official warning, after Barrow Borough Council considered closing the park as a result of two sacred ibis escaping in 2014.^[28] The birds are harmful to British fauna. In the same year local media covered sightings of two capuchin monkeys that also escaped from the zoo.^[29]

On 10 June 2016 the park was fined £255,000 at Preston Crown Court on Friday after entering guilty pleas to contravening the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in relation to the death of Sarah McClay. On Wednesday 8 June 2016, the company admitted that on or before May 24, 2013 it failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of employees, including McClay, arising out of and/or in connection with the keeping of big cats. It also pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that persons not in its employment on the above date were not exposed to risk to their health and safety.

The zoo, now known as South Lakes Safari Zoo, was fined £297,500 at Preston Crown Court. Some £42,500 of the fine was imposed for health and safety law breaches, which the company admitted, relating to when a zoo keeper fell from a ladder while preparing to feed big cats in July 2014. The zoo must also pay £150,000 prosecution costs over the next 10 years.^[13]

Gill's South Lakes Safari Zoo Limited, entered guilty pleas at Preston Crown Court to contravening the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £297,500 and ordered to pay £150,000 legal costs. The zoo's licence - on which around 100 jobs rely - expired on Monday but has been continued until a meeting on July 5 and 6 when its final fate of the site in Dalton-in-Furness in Cumbria could be decided. The zoo had 39 conditions imposed in its licence earlier this year including issues over animal welfare.^[30]

Zoo owner loses licence,^[31] South Lakes Safari Zoo boss is refused licence extension.^[14] David Gill was refused a zoo licence when it was up for renewal and, during a three-day special council hearing heard by Barrow Borough Council during the days of 5/6/7 July 2016.^[32] It was found by the zoo inspection team and council committee members that both David Gill and the management are both not fit to hold a zoo licence and Barrow Borough Council gave David Gill and the zoo management a six-month period whereby the owner Mr Gill and the management must fulfill all parts of point 39 of the zoo inspection report,^[33] the zoo must still fulfill various parts of Direction Orders that were issued in regards to the zoo and its licence. Within the three day hearing it was pointed out that the Council are suing the zoo for fees that are owned in fees for unpaid maintenance. The reports are damning for David Gill and the Management, failings on both the owner and the management have been noted which have given huge causes for concern, if the zoo, the owner and its management fail to meet or ignore, do nothing and or, continue to blame others, the Council Licensing Committee have made it very clear that the zoo will close if these conditions and legal notices to comply with the Zoo Licence Act and various other Acts are not met in full.^[32] David Gill has formally indicated he will apply for fresh permission to run South Lakes Safari Zoo in Dalton in Furness, Cumbria, where a keeper was killed by a tiger in 2013. His current licence expires in January. In July, inspectors recommended the zoo's licence should not be reissued until new management was in place. They said Mr Gill, 55, had refused to "implement modern zoo practices" resulting in significant concerns over the safety of staff, the visiting public and the animals.^[34] A fresh zoo licence application will be conducted in a hearing on the 10th Nover 2016 when the council shall here and make reference to this new and fresh application.

52 – Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (as amended) - Zoo Licence for South Lakes Safari Zoo Ltd – Compliance with Conditions and Direction Orders

The Principal Environmental Health Officer (Commercial) reported that at a meeting of this Committee on 23, 24 February and 2 March 2016 Members had placed a number of conditions on the premises’ Zoo Licence and elevated two existing conditions to Direction Orders.

At a meeting of this Committee on 23, 24 February and 2 March 2016, Members added this condition to the Zoo's licence.

A review of bite injuries was undertaken and an action plan was produced by the Zoo and was reviewed during the Special Inspection of May 2016. However, only the bites that had been noted by the Inspectors at their inspection in November 2015 were covered in the review and it stated that there had been no further bites reported.

During this inspection the Inspectors also noted interference from primates with visitors during their visit, for example a Tamarin was seen trying to remove popcorn from a child in a pram, and a ring tailed lemur trying to steal food from a family eating at an outdoor table.

The Inspectors concluded that the review was "inadequate and did not address the underlying issues" and rejected it. They were also of the opinion that it was likely that bites and other injuries caused by animals were "still likely to be occurring but were not being reported and/or recorded".

The Zoo had technically complied with the condition in that they had produced a written review and action plan however, the Inspectors deemed the resulting report and action plan inadequate.

Following the Officer's recommendation to the Committee on 5–7 July 2016, the wording of the condition was amended and remained on the licence. A compliance date was not attached.

A Special Inspection was held on 15 August 2016.

The Inspector's comments from the Special Inspection were considered by Members along with the Zoo's response dated 26 September 2016.

The conclusion of the Inspector's was that this condition had not complied with, and it was therefore necessary to reissue it, albeit with more precise wording so that the Zoo was clear on what was required. A more precise timeline must be added to the condition. Whilst the Zoo continued to have food outlets in areas where free ranging primates had access, then there was a high likelihood that bites or other injuries to the public would occur. The Inspector's also noted, but did not observe, that the lemur feeding experience had not been altered, and felt that this was also an area where there was insufficient control over primate/visitor contact.

Ms Brewer and Dr Matthew Brash were in attendance at the meeting and made representations to the Committee and answered questions, as appropriate.

RESOLVED:- (i) Non-compliance with Condition 33 be noted;

(ii) Condition 33 be escalated to a Direction Order with compliance deadlines as detailed below:-

1. In accordance with Paragraph 6.14 of Appendix 6 and Paragraph 1.10 of the SSSMZP an appropriate and comprehensive written review of the risk of bites or injury to members of the public caused by animals must be carried out and submitted to the Licensing Authority within two weeks;

2. An appropriate written action plan, implementation times and all further changes that will be put in place to eliminate the risks of bites or injuries by animals to members of the public, must be submitted to the Local Authority within two weeks; after compliance with Condition (1) above;

3. Implementation of this action plan must be made immediately following its submission to the Licensing Authority and demonstrably active progress should be visible by 4 November 2016; and

4. Full completion of implementation of the action plan must be achieved within six months. ^[32]

Animal welfare concerns raised at Dalton zoo. ISSUES such as slippery surfaces and cold temperatures for animals at a south Cumbria zoo have been raised ahead of another crucial meeting ^[17][18]

Animals

Big Cats

The zoo's big cat collection includes African lions, Sumatran tigers, jaguars (a male named Saka and a female named Bonita), and a male snow leopard named Wolfgang.

Primates

The zoo's primate collection includes squirrel monkeys, brown capuchin monkeys, emperor tamarins, siamang, hamadryas baboons, saddleback tamarins, Colombian spider monkeys, cottontop tamarins, black howlers, white-handed gibbons, black and white ruffed lemurs (as well as its sub-species, the belted ruffed lemur), black lemurs, ring-tailed lemurs, mongoose lemurs, gentle lemurs, white-fronted brown lemurs, and red ruffed lemurs. Many of the zoo's lemurs are free-roaming.

Marsupials

The zoo's marsupial collection includes western grey kangaroos, red kangaroos, agile wallabies, swamp wallabies, parma wallabies, and brush-tailed bettongs.

Other Mammals

Other mammal species include giraffes, spectacled bears, South American tapirs, white rhinoceros, prairie dogs, pygmy hippopotamus, Rodrigues fruit bats, alpacas, Arctic wolves (two males and one female), two-toed sloths, donkeys, pigs, Oriental small-clawed otters, muntjac deer, capybara, reindeer, lowland paca, fennec foxes, pygmy goats, red squirrels, babirusa, yellow mongooses, Siberian chipmunks, and a male giant anteater named Joao.

Parrots

The zoo's parrot collection includes mealy amazons, blue-fronted amazons, orange-winged amazons, yellow-naped amazons, African grey parrots, blue and yellow macaws, military macaws, red and green macaws, scarlet macaws, and red-fronted macaws. Some of the macaws are allowed to fly around the zoo freely.

Waterfowl

Waterfowl species include sacred ibis, glossy ibis, scarlet ibis, coscoroba swans, Caribbean flamingos, white storks, European spoonbills, black swans, little egrets, and free-roaming ducks and geese of various species, including Mandarin ducks, wood ducks, red-crested pochards, Magellanic geese, and Hawaiian geese.

Other Birds

Other bird species include Humboldt penguins, king vultures, turkey vultures, emu, crested caracara, Andean condors, Indian peafowl and various species of pheasant, including Lady Amherst's pheasants, blue eared-pheasants, and kalij pheasants.

Reptiles

The zoo's reptile collection includes boa constrictors, Burmese pythons, a single yellow anaconda, red-eared terrapins, and various species of tortoise, including Hermann's tortoises, leopard tortoises, and African spurred tortoises.

Park Facilities

Facilities include the Maki ("ring tailed lemur" in Malagasy) restaurant, picnic areas, a small train and a road train, and a gift shop.

Conservation

The zoo bills itself as one of the best conservation zoos in the country, this is a self-based comment from the owner David Gill however, to date there is a lack of scientific peer reviewed status on what the owner claims. It has raised over £1.4million for active in-situ conservation for Sumatran tigers via its charity The Sumatran Tiger Trust, again this is a self- acclaimed comment from the owner David Gill. However, there does seem to be numerous discrepancies seen in the charity accounts which do don't confirm what the owner claims. Also with a charity called the wildlife protection foundation which helps wildlife in other areas of the world like spectacled bears and scarlet macaws in Peru and the lemurs of Madagascar, the owner David Gill has made numerous claims that he and his charities and zoo has done these things but again the comments from David Gill do not match up to what the owner claims. All of the conservation projects supported by the zoo will now be grouped under the name "Safari Zoo Nature Foundation".

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to South Lakes Wild Animal Park.

• Official website
• The Cumbria Directory - South Lakes Wild Animal Park