South Lakes Safari Zoo: Disappointing licensing decision announced

Giraffe feeding at South Lakes Safari Zoo © Born Free

South Lakes Safari Zoo, Cumbria, has been allowed to stay open following a Regulatory Sub-Committee meeting on 22nd July 2024, despite inspectors finding numerous issues across three inspections in the last four months. Rather than ordering the zoo to close, the committee opted to attach further conditions to the zoo’s licence, stipulating necessary improvements. 

In March 2024, a Special Investigation was conducted at the zoo in response to Born Free’s own investigation a month previously. Several issues identified by Born Free were corroborated by the Council including:

• Rhinos being confined to limited space, with some individuals estimated to have been confined in such conditions for over 17 hours per day;
• The meerkat enclosure being described as “filthy” by the inspector;
• The bedding for the reindeers being reportedly “old, wet, flattened, insufficient”;
• The Andean bears being confined to their indoor enclosure;
• Large quantities of carrots being fed to the giraffes while little dietary enrichment was provided.

Inspectors also agreed that the shed within the baboon enclosure was in poor condition and posed a hazard to the animals, and that a number of animals continued to be kept in inappropriate social groupings.

Additionally, a work experience student was found working unsupervised in an area with dangerous animals, one of the rhinos was observed showing stereotypic behaviour by inspectors, and a lack of suitable firearms cover was present on site. Damningly, the report stated: “The lack of straw, poor hygiene, overflowing muck heap, poor keeping practices, increase in pest problems and the potential dietary drift are all indicative of either a lack of suitable management, or poor management, and potentially a lack of staff.”

Overall, inspectors stated that “there are now major causes for concern” and “many of these problems have a reoccurring theme”. The zoo has stated that a number of these issues have been addressed within Council documents, however concerns remain as to the likelihood of these issues reoccurring.

A month later, following the zoo’s periodic inspection in April 2024, more alarming issues were identified by the inspection team:

• Keepers were witnessed entering enclosures with dangerous wild animals;
• The wildebeest food was reported to contain mould;
• There were sharp metal projections in the honey badger enclosure which were alleged to have caused facial injuries to one of the animals;
• UV provision was identified as inadequate for the zoo’s reptiles;
• The zoo continues to keep too many rhinos in relation to available outdoor space, despite a Direction order being in place which requires the zoo to address the issue;
• Sedatives within the zoo’s gun cabinet were out of date;
• A “Major ongoing problem with long-term rodent infestation” was reported;
• There was inadequate education provision;
• Exposed screws were found in public areas as previously identified by Born Free;
• Zoo management reportedly demonstrated “a lack of appreciation of required standards”.

The inspectors reported that they were left with “very grave concerns about many obvious declining standards in the Zoo”. This is but a few of the problems reported by inspectors.

Westmorland & Furness Regulatory Sub-Committee documents reveal that the zoo’s operators are considering establishing a new facility at a different location, raising concerns for the fate of the animals remaining at the zoo, and of those that are transferred to any new site when considering the zoo management’s troubled track record. Additionally, inspectors present at the April inspection have reiterated their scrutiny of the zoo, following what appears to be objection from zoo management. In a joint letter to the Council, the inspectors state:

“More recently, the numbers of repeated and on-going Directions speak for volumes. We developed the realisation that the management, despite being in post for a considerable period of time, having received repeated inspections and adverse reports, still are not able to consistently meet the standards required in a modern zoo licensed facility.”

Reacting to the news, Chris Lewis, Born Free’s Captivity Research & Policy Manager said: “The zoo’s management have been given ample time to address these issues and have continually failed the animals in their care. The inspectors’ comments say it all. Grave and major concerns. Declining, or a complete lack of standards. Ongoing and reoccurring welfare failings. How can this sorry saga be allowed to continue a moment longer? We remain extremely concerned for the welfare of the animals at the zoo and for the safety of staff and visitors.
“The zoo licensing and inspection process must be reviewed and reformed. This case alone provides numerous examples of how the current system is fundamentally flawed. We urge the new Labour Government to address this issue without delay.”

READ OUR 2024 INVESTIGATION     READ OUR 2022 INVESTIGATION