THERE has been a zoo at the site in Dalton for nearly 30 years - and it is fair to say it has had its ups and downs.

Here's a timeline of events in the history of what is now known as Safari Zoo...

1983: David Gill reveals his vision to open a wild animal park at his home.

1993: Mr Gill buys 14 acres of land off Broughton Road in Dalton.

1994: South Lakes Wild Animal Park opens to the public on May 27.

1996: The zoo attracts a record number of 100,000 visitors.

1996: The zoo features on Michaela Strachan's The Really Wild Show.

1997: Zimba the white rhino escapes from its compound and is shot and killed.

2000: David Gill buys land in Australia to open Mareeba Zoo.

2004: After just four years Mareeba Zoo in Australia is closed after regulatory breaches including one in which he was fined for chasing down a cheetah on a motorbike.

2007: Dalton zoo's reports record post-tax profits of £350,000.

2007: David Gill is attacked by love rival Richard Creary after the zoo boss started seeing Creary's estranged wife.

2008: The zoo is criticised by licensing officers over the escape of lemurs.

2013: The zoo is hit by tragedy with the death of zookeeper Sarah McClay.

2016: In June the zoo is fined £255,000 after admitting safety failings relating to Miss McClay's death.

2017: South Lakes Safari Zoo loses licence after report reveals almost 500 animal deaths in three years.

Seven healthy lion cubs and five young baboons were "euthanised" because there was not enough space

Mr Gill shot 18 Sacred Ibis birds after he was threatened with prosecution for letting them fly free

Two snow leopards were found partially eaten

Government announces it is considering an overhaul of zoo legislation and licensing. Cumbria Zoo Company Ltd was granted a licence as the new operators of the zoo.

2018: South Lakes Safari Zoo (SLSZ), the firm set up and ran by David Gill, goes into administration.

The zoo was the subject of a BBC Two programme 'Trouble at the Zoo' which documented the new management’s efforts to reform the zoo.

2020: The land which houses South Lakes Safari Zoo is sold to the Zoo Investment Company (ZIC). David Rivera (formerly Gill) is appointed as agent by ZIC.

2021: The zoo closes its doors after the owners chose to terminate their lease following ‘serious breaches’ of terms of occupation, which managers denied.

The zoo reopens the next day as normal.

2022: Zoo bosses are told to improve the security of enclosures following a council inspection amid fears baboons could escape.

Born Free publishes a report alleging the zoo ‘fails to meet even basic standards’ of animal welfare. Zoo bosses said the claims are  ‘inaccurate’.