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Woburn Safari Park's roar of disapproval
Accusations made in Sunday newspaper
Woburn Safari Park yesterday insisted it does not accept the cruelty allegations made in a national Sunday newspaper about the way its animals are treated and kept.
In a statement it said that it considers the information to have been unfairly selective, thus exaggerating the problems described, and providing an unfair and inaccurate impression of conditions at the park.
The report, in the Sunday Times, described how government inspectors claimed that when the public is not looking the animals are locked into cramp cages for up to 18 hours a day.
It also said that an investigation also discovered that exotic large turtles were being housed in inadequate "temporary" tanks for months.
According to The Sunday Times one zoo keeper allegedly told bosses that he was "ashamed" to work there.
However, a spokesman for Woburn Safari Park said: "Woburn Safari Park is, and has always been, committed to animal welfare and best practice.
"The park has been operational for 40 years and for the last ten years we have implemented a detailed development program with the specific remit of providing Woburn's animals with the highest attainable standards.
"The park receives regular inspections from Central Bedfordshire Council, and has also been inspected by BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums) and EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquariums) representatives to substantiate the fact that high standards of animal welfare are maintained.
"As soon as Woburn became aware of the Sunday Times' interest in the Park we immediately invited the journalist to meet with us so that we could discuss any matters and avoid any misunderstandings in the report.
"For some reason he refused that invitation and the result is an article which does not accurately characterise the level of care provided to the animals.
"Woburn attempted to respond to the allegations on only a few hours' notice, providing The Sunday Times with detailed information and independent documents, along with a statement from one of the people quoted in the article which contradicted the conclusions drawn in the article.
"We consider it to be a serious matter that this material has been omitted, with the result that the level of care provided by extremely dedicated and skilled staff at Woburn Safari Park, and the high opinion of that care expressed by leading animal experts, have been completely ignored in the article.
"Woburn Safari Park is now seeking legal advice."
The inspection the national newspaper was referring to was carried out at the instigation of Central Bedfordshire Council who had received complaints from an ex-employee that the management and overnight housing of the lions was not of a standard to be expected of a licensed zoo.
More on this story will appear in this week's Times & Citizen.
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Friday 25 May 2012
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