A SENIOR councillor has given an update on how a Cumbrian zoo is responding to directions and conditions placed on the attraction following an inspection that found ‘grave concerns’.

Cabinet member for Transport and Regulatory Services councillor Neil Hughes told the cabinet for Westmorland and Furness Council that Cumbria Zoo Company Limited, who operate South Lakes Safari Zoo in Dalton, appears to be ‘responding constructively’ to the directions and conditions.

Cllr Hughes added the council would ‘continue to monitor’ from an environmental health and licensing perspective.

This comes after an inspection of South Lakes Safari Zoo in April found while the inspectors did not doubt the ‘hard work’ and ‘passion’ of the staff of the zoo, they had ‘grave concerns’ about ‘many obvious declining standards’.

READ MORE: South Lakes Safari Zoo inspection found ‘major causes for concern’

Members of the regulatory sub-committee for Westmorland and Furness Council added several conditions and directions to the attraction’s licence at a meeting on July 22.

The sub-committee stated: “The sub-committee having heard from the officer, the advisory veterinary surgeon, the licence holder, and having read the evidence in the committee papers, is satisfied that the conditions of the licence are not being met.”

Additional conditions and directions were placed on the zoo to ensure the site accommodates and keeps the animals in a manner consistent with the standards set out in the Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice.

They include:

  • to provide suitable heating within the old giraffe house as an inspection previously found the original heater for the enclosure was no longer working.
  • to either trap and remove all Prairie dogs that are now living in the easterly end of the enclosure or modify the enclosure fencing to ensure that in all areas it is constructed in such a way as to prevent their escape.
  • to ensure the single Nyala and the wildebeest are placed with animals of the same species so they can live in ‘normal compatible’ social groups.
  • the overflow car park cannot be used by members of the public until it is repaired.
  • to have a closure plan in place within three months of the meeting to ensure ‘continued compliance’ with the zoo licensing act. The closure plan must include a ‘detailed animal stock list’ of animals moving to the new site as well as for those the zoo licence holder is not planning on moving to the new site.

READ MORE: Council gives update on South Lakes Safari Zoo

A response by the zoo operators Cumbria Zoo Company Limited (CZCL) in July said: “We fully accept there are some findings on the recent inspection which should not have happened, there are no excuses, we take full responsibility for these. We evidenced in our response, and the inspectors have in today’s agenda, acknowledge where these have been corrected or measures have been implemented to correct them.

“That is not to downplay the importance of the findings, but the speed of rectification does show firstly how committed we are as a team and secondly how even more annoying that they were even in existence.”

Wildlife charity Born Wild previously criticised the zoo operators and raised concern over the welfare of animals as well as the safety of visitors on the site.

Chris Lewis, Born Free’s captivity research and policy manager, said: “The inspectors’ comments say it all. Grave and major concerns.”

“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.”

READ MORE: Safari Zoo bosses react after inspection team's 'red flags'

The report from the zoo inspection in April said there was ‘no evidence’ of systemic animal health and welfare problems and says there is an ‘excellent veterinary programme’ at the zoo.

A report prepared for the regulatory sub-committee for Westmorland and Furness Council in July said following an inspection in April, 28 proposed directions were recommended to the zoo, of which 26 had been complied with. The two remaining conditions were reworded to provide clarity.

The report adds: “Cumbria Zoo Company Limited (CZCL) have acted to resolve many of the issues raised at the inspection, the recommendations, conditions and directions.”

Documents previously submitted to the council by CZCL said the company had ‘prioritised development at a new holiday cottage site in Tebay to ensure a future for Cumbria Zoo’.

However they added: “We do not believe this has impacted on the welfare or wellbeing of the animals living at Safari Zoo, and this is evidenced in your acknowledgement that there are no animal welfare or health issues.

“Again, we in no way say this as an excuse for the findings of the inspection, but to support our view that we are doing everything in our power to maintain standards at Dalton, and to secure a future for Cumbria Zoo past the end of the lease.”

The current lease expires on May 10, 2027.

The condition says if animals are likely to remain on the existing site after the zoo licence holder departs, ‘appropriate and legally compliant’ plans must be in place to manage these animals.

In the July meeting, this condition was amended to allow the licence holder to seek approval for a change of the plan should circumstances change.