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Animal Welfare Concerns Continue at England Zoo Despite New Management

BBC reports have revealed ongoing animal welfare issues and a toxic work environment at South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria, England, where serious allegations have emerged even under new management. The zoo, previously under intense scrutiny for its treatment of animals and staff, is once again facing criticism despite promises of improvement when a new board of directors took control in 2017.

South Lakes Safari Zoo, located in Dalton-in-Furness, was close to closure in 2017 under its former owner, David Gill, following reports of numerous animal deaths and other significant operational failures. With the zoo on the brink, a new management team under Cumbria Zoo Company Limited (CZCL) was brought in. They vowed to reform the zoo, and initial inspections praised changes in its culture and animal care standards. However, some former employees who worked at the zoo after the management change have come forward with claims that the conditions remained dire.

The whistleblowers, who spoke to the BBC under anonymity, provided photographs and videos of distressed and injured animals between 2017 and 2019. These images depict animals in distressing situations, including a zebra stuck in the bars of its pen, which was later euthanized, a capybara covered in cuts from fighting, and a giraffe with a bloodied head caused by repeatedly hitting the bars of its pen during public feeding sessions. These incidents have led to accusations that the zoo’s problems are far from over.

Despite these claims, zoo officials have firmly denied any wrongdoing. CZCL states that they “wholly deny” all accusations, maintaining that the zoo has undergone numerous independent inspections with positive feedback on animal care. Chief executive Karen Brewer pointed to an ongoing legal dispute with Zoo Investment Company (ZIC), which owns the land where the zoo is located, as a factor in these allegations, accusing the company of trying to undermine CZCL’s operations.

However, former employees have reported serious issues with the animals’ living conditions. They claim overcrowding has led to violent behavior and inbreeding among species, while others allege that animals were deliberately underfed to ensure they would be more willing to interact with guests. One former employee shared a particularly disturbing story of a peacock that wandered into the otter enclosure and was gruesomely killed in front of visitors.

In addition to concerns about the animals, the investigation also highlighted claims of a bullying culture within the zoo’s management. Ex-staff described a hostile work environment where employees were publicly berated, humiliated, and left in tears. High turnover rates were common, as many workers could not cope with the pressure and distress caused by the toxic atmosphere. CZCL has dismissed these allegations, asserting that they take such claims seriously and investigate them when brought forward.