CALLS are being made for a government inquiry to be held into appalling conditions at a failing Furness zoo.

A closure notice was issued to South Lakes Safari Zoo after the attraction, near Dalton, lost its licence to keep animals on Monday.

The decision was taken by Barrow Borough Council bosses after zoo inspectors highlighted poor welfare standards and animal suffering after a visit in January.

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Now Barrow and Furness MP John Woodcock claims work must be done to ensure the UK's zoo inspection regime is performing properly.

He has backed a call by the All Party Committee on Zoos and Aquariums for an investigation into the standards found at the site near Dalton.


MP John Woodcock Mr Woodcock said: "The conditions that the inspectors discovered at South Lakes Zoo are extremely disturbing and raise important questions about the way zoos are regulated, such as why this was only picked up when the license was due for renewal.

“I fully support the call for an inquiry to get to the bottom of this and to make sure the zoo inspection regime is performing properly and preventing any more animals suffering in these appalling conditions."

Mr Woodcock went on to add he hopes the future of the zoo, which was opened by controversial self-styled conservationist David Gill in 1994, can be secured.

He said: "I want our zoo to have a future but it must be on the basis of a complete change of culture that ensures proper respect and care for animals."

MP Andrew Rosindell, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on zoos and aquariums, claims licencing bodies should be called to give an explanation on why action to address issues at South Lakes Safari Zoo was not taken earlier.

Mr Rosindell said: "I’d like to know what’s gone wrong here.

"We in this country have a very proud record of conservation and animal welfare in zoos and what we are seeing in this zoo goes against what happens generally across the country.”

A post mortem report cataloguing the deaths of 486 animals at South Lakes Safari Zoo in less than four years found emaciation, hypothermia and injuries caused by infighting in overcrowded pens among the causes.

The zoo can remain open pending an appeal by Mr Gill against the formal closure notice.

It has been run by Cumbria Zoo Company Ltd since January. CZCL has applied for its own zoo licence which is expected to be heard in May.

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