Barrow Borough Council raised several concerns about the zoo, including the closeness of the rhino dung to a fence, and the safety of walkways. A muck pile in the African enclosure, which houses rhinos, giraffes and baboons, could pose a route for the monkeys to climb fencing and escape, a report for the council found. The zoo was told to move the pile away from the boundary by December 31, however the attraction stated it could not do so until the completion of a new rhino facility which had been delayed by several months.
Zoo bosses said they felt "harassed" by the council and were unable to continue under such conditions. On Thursday Barrow Council's licensing committee issued an order to the zoo to prove within 28 days that the aerial walkways were safe. Zoo inspector Matthew Brash showed the council pictures of rotting timbers and said he and his colleagues had noted 20 slips and trips on them from the zoo's accident book. But Karen Brewer, from the zoo, said there was only one accident listed in 2015 and two in 2014.
The council also said a pile of rhino dung was too close to a fence, providing a possible escape route for baboons, although the zoo said there had never been a baboon escape in 16 years of the dung being piled there. In a statement, the zoo said: "We assure everyone that the zoo is safe and there is no evidence whatsoever to say otherwise. We are being subjected to an unprecedented attack and attempt to undermine our credibility and professionalism at every chance created. The management team cannot work under these conditions and hence the decisions made."
4 comments:
Grow a pair and do what's right for everyone. When they say every thing is fine, that's when something goes wrong. Err on the side of caution and fix the problem.
Boy, those councils across the pond sure try to micromanage everything. But rhino poop? Really?
The story doesn't mention that it wouldn't be the first time stock have escaped from this zoo, and a keeper was killed by a tiger a couple of years ago. It's no wonder the authorities have been watching especially carefully!
Just been reading a bit more about it. That previous escapee? A rhino. The dead keeper? Due to a faulty/poorly maintained door latch. Another incident I'd forgotten about was a fire which killed 30 lemurs, again due to faulty/poorly maintained equipment.
Post a Comment