I thought maybe they were talking about moving the existing GIraffes and White Rhinos to the other site, but from reading above that appears not to be the case for either species. It all seems very complicated
South Lakes Wild Animal Park South Lakes / Safari Zoo Closure
- Thread starter alfiethetortois
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I thought maybe they were talking about moving the existing GIraffes and White Rhinos to the other site, but from reading above that appears not to be the case for either species. It all seems very complicated
Strathmorezoo
Well-Known Member
Yes,that was my original thought.
Tbf nothing should surprise us regarding this place. In all honesty & imo they shouldn't be allowed to reopen a new site, it should be closed and allow another wildlife park take over(either purchasing or leasing the site). All these current animals should be rehomed(obviously it's already started), a new site with management from the old SL will still have the SL stigma hanging over them.
It gets more complicated that some animals are owned by their respective EEP's (eg: the Spectacled Bears and Sumatran Tigers), others are owned by Cumbria Zoo Company (the current operators) and others by the landlords, ZIC (such as some of the Rhino - presumably the ones that DG originally imported from Africa 20 odd years ago). It's one big mess.
Any idea who owns what?
A 'mess' was indeed the wording I was going to use.
and is there a chance yet another zoo will re-open on the same site with a new group of operators?
As I remarked a few days ago, there have been rumours on the grapevine for a while now that ZIC had intentions of forcing CZCL out of the site before the formal end of the lease so as to open a zoo under their own control and operated by people of their choosing - so given recent events I wouldn't be surprised at all.
I noticed on their Fb page that following the closure announcement the comments section was blocked, indicating they didn't want to answer lots of questions about 'why are you closing' ? etc. While the announcement itself contains no mention of rehoming any animals either, which seems strange under the circumstances, so perhaps all the animals they don't own will indeed be staying put?
ItsZach
Well-Known Member
The comments have been off for weeks following the last burst of news stories regarding the bears/zebra/nyala stuff, so it's not about the closure.
They probably had enough of responding to their followers after that, and knowing this was in the offing too, this fresh announcement is just a 'fait accompli'.The comments have been off for weeks following the last burst of news stories regarding the bears/zebra/nyala stuff, so it's not about the closure.
ZooNews2024
Well-Known Member
EEP's do not own ANY animals - they control where they are housed, and try to control what is bred.
Ownership is quite separate.
It is not really a 'mess' - just that every animal in every zoo will/could have different owners. South Lakes is no different.
Closing a zoo is potentially very complicated and could be very prolonged and hugely expensive, and there are no mechanisms in place, no precedents and no legal framework.
Yes, my affirmation of the original 'mess' comment was partly about the existing situation but also about the longerterm past. The statement gives no indication as to the future of the animals. It seems more an announcement of termination of this company's tenure. So is there the possibility of yet another change of management rather than a true closure?
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Given the track record of ZIC for whom they have chosen to act on their behalf at South Lakes in the past, one wonders who they might install if this does come to pass.....
Lafone
Well-Known Member
I think you're right and it looks like a move to open at least some of the site under new management (after all it's a big place with loads of zoo infrastructure it's hard to see what on earth else they do with it bar buldoze it for houses). But him being reappointed would be quite a shocker.
Strathmorezoo
Well-Known Member
OH , NO, really?, surely, it's Christmas, not April. 1st.
Oh, I very much doubt he will be allowed near the place with a ten-foot bargepole
my point is merely that ZIC being willing to be associated with Gill in the past doesn't exactly raise my hopes when it comes to their judgement of character regarding any theoretical future appointments for the South Lakes site.
Zoo investment company (ZIC) seem to be saying that urgent work will be done at the zoo and they will "immediately take responsibility and care" for all animals remaining.
South Lakes Safari Zoo's land owners pledge 'urgent' improvements
What concerns me is that a quick search on companies house shows David Riviera (formally Gill) seems listed as a shareholder of ZIC. Wether this still stands or not, any association with Gill does not bode well for the future of the zoo.
South Lakes Safari Zoo's land owners pledge 'urgent' improvements
What concerns me is that a quick search on companies house shows David Riviera (formally Gill) seems listed as a shareholder of ZIC. Wether this still stands or not, any association with Gill does not bode well for the future of the zoo.
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Opening hours for the zoo until closure as the zoo currently stands. Open every day 10-3pm except Christmas Day, Boxing Day up to and including 31st Dec. Free entry for all.
Opening hours for the zoo until closure as the zoo currently stands. Open every day 10-3pm except Christmas Day, Boxing Day up to and including 31st Dec. Free entry for all.
It seems clear from the ZIC's quotes in this release that they intend to continue it as a zoo in some form. While the CZCL announcement seems to dodge the issue of the longerterm future.
ZooNews2024
Well-Known Member
Any new owners/operators will need to apply for a Zoo Licence from scratch, and this will involve a full disclosure of all involved (and their 'maiden'! names) to DEFRA and the Local Authority.
The latter (at least) have not been exactly sympathetic to him in the past, even if he did had full support of BIAZA and EAZA.