BOSSES from the South Lakes Safari Zoo have responded after the site's owners chose to terminate their lease.

The Zoo Investment Company, which owns the site, said today the zoo had committed 'serious breaches' of its lease.

The zoo has now been closed temporarily.

Zoo managers have hit back at claims made by ZIC.

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- South Lakes Safari Zoo closed as lease terminated

A spokeswoman for the Cumbria Zoo Company, which ran the zoo before today, said: "We arrived at the zoo at 6am this morning to find the locks had been changed, and a security team in in situ with guard dogs

"There are no breaches of the lease, the perceived issues raised by ZIC relate to the personal property of former owner David Gill.  

"These are civil matters and are being treated as such.

"There are no animal welfare issues, our inspection report and subsequent license renewal confirms this."

Bosses from the zoo said two members of staff from Yorkshire Wildlife Park had been at the site.

The zoo managers said they were concerned that new keepers would be able to look after the animals as well as current staff 'who know which rhino is which' and 'who know who can and cannot live with each other'.

Police and security staff were seen at the site, in Melton Terrace, Lindal, today.