CALLS have been made for the permanent closure of Dalton zoo following fresh allegations against the attraction.
Animal rights charity Freedom for Animals has called on Barrow Borough Council to address further issues at South Lakes Safari Zoo following concerns their use of ‘bangless’ fireworks are causing ‘immense stress’ to animals.
Freedom for Animals, previously known as the Captive Animals Protection Society (CAPS), was founded in 1957 and is one of the world’s oldest animal rights charities.
A Freedom for Animal's (FFA) representative visited a Christmas fireworks event held at the zoo in December 2022.
The charity claims ‘significant noise’ from the five-minute display was present; alongside loud music which blared from the playground situated directly between the reindeer and African enclosures.
A FFA spokesman said: “From our investigator's position, a reading of 82 decibels (db) was registered on their electronic sound meter: comparable to being next to a lawnmower, a level at which sustained exposure may result in hearing loss to humans.
“Animals have much more sensitive hearing to humans, so if 82db can cause issues to human hearing, it will most certainly affect animals' more dramatically and cause far more distress. Every animal at South Lakes Zoo will have suffered stress as a result. The fact the event was held every weekend in the run up to Christmas - as well as every night through the week before Christmas Eve - shows a complete lack of consideration by zoo staff.”
As well as concerns surrounding the firework events, the FFA said it found an array of further issues surrounding animal welfare.
The allegations come months after fellow wildlife charity Born Free published a report claiming the zoo ‘fails to meet even basic standards’ of animal welfare.
South Lakes Safari Zoo refuted all allegations made by Born Free.
Two months on since Born Free’s visit, the FFA said the situation at South Lakes Zoo remains ‘unchanged’.
We attempted to contact South Lakes Zoo but were unable to receive a response before this publication went to print.
After the FFA’s visit in December, the charity has made a number of claims against the facility, including: giraffes displaying signs of zoochosis, animals having very poor access to outside space, a lack of nutrient rich, or suitable, food available, insufficient heating leaving some species forced to huddle together for heat and a lack of consideration for distressing noise levels, with one enclosure situated directly alongside the noisy A590.
The charity asserts that the animals are being ‘horrifically’ let down by Barrow Borough Council who are ‘reluctant to take responsibility’ over the ‘shocking mistreatment’ of Dalton zoo’s wildlife.
In response, a spokeswoman for Barrow Borough Council said: "As confirmed in a previous statement, under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 the council was required to commission a Zoo Veterinary Inspector who additionally is a DEFRA Zoo Inspector to undertake an inspection following receipt of concerns from an external group. This inspection took place at the earliest opportunity in November.
"The council is following the statutory procedure in this matter which includes providing a copy of the subsequent inspection report to the zoo for comment. The final report, including the zoo’s response, must then be provided to the Licensing Committee. This will take place at the next available hearing which is scheduled for February."
FFA director Dr Andrew Kelly said: “It is unbelievable that this zoo can continue to fail animals with no consequences. Given the history of consistently failing to ensure the welfare of many of their animals it is time for the local authority, which is responsible for enforcing the legislation, to hold the zoo to account and remove its licence.
“Appropriate homes should be found for all of the zoo’s animals at suitably accredited animal sanctuaries where they can be assessed for release to the wild or to live out their lives in as good an environment as possible where they are not subject to constant disturbance by visitors and stunts like the recent firework displays.”
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