19th February 2020

Borth Wild Animal Kingdom yesterday announced that they have reopened to the public against the expressed advice from their licensing authority. The troubled zoo had been closed for over three weeks following a closure direction from Ceredigion County Council to close the enclosures of its most dangerous (known as 'Category 1') animals.

Despite making the decision to allow the public back onto the site, the zoo is still in breach of its licence conditions as it has still has 'inadequate firearms arrangements in the event of an escape of a dangerous animal'. As a token gesture, the lion area is said to be closed, however other 'Category 1' species enclosures are believed to be open to the public such as those of lynx and capuchin monkeys. Borth Wild Animal Kingdom has admitted that it is not expected to meet its licence conditions before June, showing contempt for the zoo licensing system and for Ceredigion Council, but also a blatant disregard for the safety of the public.

Following research by Freedom for Animals of the zoo's most up to date stock list, further shocking mortalities have come to light. In 2018, five out of the nine marginated tortoises held there died within the year. Marginated tortoises have a life expectancy of around 100 years and so natural mortalities occur much more infrequently than other species in the zoo, making this statistic extremely concerning. As well as this, four of the zoo's nineteen common marmosets (21%) died during the same year, again suggesting inadequate care of the animals.

Dr Emma Milne BVSc MRCVS said;

It is clear that this zoo is completely incapable of ensuring the welfare of its animals and I fully support the campaign to close its doors for good and relocate the animals for a better chance at a life worth living.

These deaths are in addition to the shocking incidents in 2017 in which Nilly the Lynx was strangled to death in 2017 in a reported ‘handling error’ by staff and a lynx named Lillith escaped the zoo and was shot dead after five days on the loose.

Freedom for Animals' Director, Sam Threadgill commented;

It is within Ceredigion Council's power under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 to order the full and permanent closure of Borth Wild Animal Kingdom. Now is the time for the council to act in both the interests of those animals held captive by the Tweedys and of public safety and close down Borth Zoo for good.

The zoo has until Monday 24th February to appeal the council's zoo closure direction.

TAKE ACTION by adding your name to our open letter calling on Ceredigion Council to shut down Borth Wild Animal Kingdom!

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