BOSSES at Dalton's zoo have denied new claims of animal neglect and a bullying culture among staff at the site.
Former staff at the South Lakes Safari Zoo claimed that animal welfare issues were ignored, with one alleging that 'fighting' and 'inbreeding' were a common occurrence due to animals being kept in 'inappropriate social groups'.
They also described a bullying culture towards workers, with a high staff turnover, according to a report by BBC News.
The site has been dogged by controversy since animal welfare issues were uncovered under its previous management.
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Former zoo boss David Gill was refused a licence to run the zoo in 2017.
Four years before that zoo keeper Sarah McClay was mauled to death by a tiger that got through an unlocked gate and attacked her.
The Cumbria Zoo Company took over the running of the site in 2017.
Responding to the claims, bosses at the South Lakes Safari Zoo said they 'emphatically deny the very serious accusations of poor welfare and neglect put forward by the BBC and their 'sources'.
They added: "There’s lots more we could say: and maybe in time we will.
"For now, we take the advice of those who are much more qualified than us in dealing with these matters.
"We took over the running of the zoo with one goal - to stop over 1,000 animals from being put to sleep and to ensure they received the highest standards of care. We have never been about self-gain or self-promotion, the animals have remained our priority for the past seven years, and they always will be."
More stories about the zoo
- Rhino 'superdad' leaving South Lakes Safari Zoo
- Freedom for Animals makes renewed calls for closure of Dalton Zoo
- South Lakes Safari Zoo bosses respond as lease terminated
The zoo also addressed an incident in which a zebra was put down after getting its hoof caught in the bars of its pen - something ex-workers said was caused by the animal becoming distressed from keeping kept indoors.
Bosses said the zebra became 'excitable' and became stuck after managing to put its leg through the bars.
They claimed the incident 'could have been foreseen' and that changes were made following it to prevent a similar event from happening again across the site.
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