ZOO bosses have branded the findings of an investigation into conditions at their facility as ‘inaccurate’.
The Born Free Foundation, an international wildlife charity that campaigns to "Keep Wildlife in the Wild”, visited Safari Zoo in Dalton following multiple public reports of concern relating to animal welfare and the general running of the zoo.
The wildlife charity has published a report online which includes a number of damning allegations against the zoo following a visit on October 17.
The charity alleges the zoo ‘fails to meet even basic standards’ of animal welfare and has written to Barrow Borough Council with their concerns.
Sam Brewer, of South Lakes Safari Zoo, described the report as containing ‘inaccurate presumptions’ and ‘inaccurate clinical assessment’.
She said: “We welcome Born Free and any opinions on the zoo, Born Free are an organisation that stands for what they believe, and we have nothing but respect for that, and the principles on which the organisation is built.
“In 2022 species are disappearing right left and centre and zoos are at the forefront of trying to, and successfully changing, that.
“Our team recently returned from a trip to see first-hand where anti-poaching dogs, trained here at Cumbria zoo, together with their handlers and on the ground NGO’s are actually making a significant stance in the fight to reduce wildlife eradication.
“During our trip, a leading conservationist told our staff soon the only way a child in South Africa will see a rhino with a horn is in a zoo, God forbid this turns out to be the case.
“This zoo, like others, are committed in 2022 and beyond to direct conservation on the ground, and to enriching the lives of the much-loved animals in our care.
READ MORE: Full report investigating conditions at South Lakes Safari Zoo revealed
“The report contains inaccurate presumptions and, understandably, inaccurate clinical assessment. Cumbria Zoo has, in our last four years, been inspected by over 35 government appointed independent inspectors with the overwhelming outcomes of those inspections being hugely positive, and the continuing progress we make here at Safari Zoo recognised.”
READ MORE: Dalton zoo bosses are ‘over the moon’ with their latest inspection
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