Zion Wildlife Gardens Lion Man losing licence

[Chlidonias]

Deadline for Lion Man to save licence to operate park | NATIONAL | NEWS | tvnz.co.nz

Deadline for Lion Man to save licence
Nov 12, 2008 7:41 AM

The Whangarei based Lion Man could be out of a job on Wednesday, the last day Craig Busch can challenge the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry's decision to revoke his licence to operate his wildlife park.

ONE News has discovered MAF has spent three months trying to deal with serious animal welfare issues at the park in Kamo, near Whangarei.

MAF inspection reports say lions and tigers were being kept in cramped unsanitary living conditions.

Immediate welfare issues have now been sorted at Zion Gardens, but there is still concern for the animals, due to an ongoing dispute between Busch and his mother.

Emails and MAF reports released under the Official Information Act show one of the options MAF considered was euthanising 40 big cats.

And it seems a dispute between the park's licensed operator (Busch) and his mother Patricia is making the situation worse.

According to an extensive paper trail that stretches back to January, MAF said some of the animal stars were kept in crowded quarters - seven lions in a cage adequate for two.

MAF inspection reports also say cats were found in insanitary living conditions, with dirty water and faecal contamination.

The reports also detail concern over staff training and inadequate barriers in some areas, to keep the public out of harms way.

The perimeter fence, the final safety back-stop, was also damaged and not repaired for a day and a half.

One expert consulted by MAF raised concerns about lions and tigers housed together, saying "It's going to be bad enough trying to find homes for mutant white lions and tigers - let alone a "liger or two."

The expert says putting them all down is an option, as is trying to find someone to take over the park.

MAF was concerned if it did nothing, a cat could escape or someone might get hurt.

But there have already been injuries at the park. In April a guide was bitten after putting both hands into a lion's cage.

A stack of paper work shows Busch accepted that a number of the concerns raised were valid.

By the end of September, MAF was satisfied the park's immediate animal welfare problems were solved, but it still has concerns about the dispute between Busch and his mother.

there's a couple of news videos on the link too

 

[Dan]

How sad! Like many others I was charmed by the television series that is still - at this very instant - shown on Danish television. I thought that the enclosures looked far too small, but thought - perhaps - that his personal "touch" with the animals could somehow compensate this. But then I read in other threads here at ZooChat about de-clawing, wife-beating and God knows what....

And what the hell will now happen to the cats if the license is revoked?

 

[snowleopard]

To kill 40 big cats is a brutally sad concept, but it might just become a reality if the "Lion Man" finally meets his deserved fate. From reading newspaper articles I was always disgusted with the deplorable conditions at his park.

 

[Dan]

Oh, so they will be put down? (I didn´t take the time to read Chlidonias´ enclosed links.) Oh God................

 

[taun]

To kill 40 big cats is a brutally sad concept, but it might just become a reality if the "Lion Man" finally meets his deserved fate. From reading newspaper articles I was always disgusted with the deplorable conditions at his park.

I know there all animals but nearly all are mutant animals and wont have anywhere to go.

I glad to see that they are finally taking action, we in the UK have had a few of the Lion Man series aired here and I found the conditions shocking and was bewildered as to how this place could exist.

 

[James27]

Very sad that most of them will probably get put down
However, although he loved his animals, I don't believe he should be allowed to keep them in these supposed conditions. And don't get me started on his white tiger "education" program...

 

[Chlidonias]

so far the only media item on this development is the one I posted, but Zion isn't actually owned by Craig Busch (although this is the impression created by the tv show); it is actually a trust and as such is (as I understand the situation) run by a board. Busch has, apparently, been "stood down" and the park has a new manager who used to be a director of Auckland Zoo (this is referred to in one of the news videos on the link).

IF the park did close down the only options for the cats are rehousing in NZ, rehousing overseas, or being put down. Frankly there is nowhere in NZ for 40 big cats to go, whether they were mutant or not. The cheetahs can be easily rehomed in NZ, as could potentially some of the regular (non-white) lions, but there is nowhere that could or would take as many white tigers and lions as he has. I very much doubt if any overseas facilities would pay to export them from NZ as they are two-a-penny overseas (maybe Australia's theme park people may take a few). The euthanasia option is the most likely one, but if that were to happen there would be a massive outcry from the public (to most tv viewers Craig Busch is a hero for saving endangered species), and I rather suspect there would be an immediate fundraiser to gather the money to ship them out safely to a "sanctuary" away from the evil NZ government.

However, as the park apparently has new management one could hope that the improvements may be immediate -- starting with the construction of adequate facilities to contain the cats! I expect the new manager (and hopefully board), with the egotism of Busch now absent, would be hoping to be an integral part of the NZ zoo scene, which to me would mean, as a first step, permanently stopping the breeding of mutants. The mutant cats, or at least most of them (some may be able to be exported), would remain at the park but would be removed through natural attrition over time.

EDIT: there was just a news item on tv3 about this. The new manager has officially been named, Glen Holland former director of Auckland Zoo. The park is still open to the public. Craig Busch has had his licence revoked -- but he will remain living on the property which certainly can't bode well considering the stunts he pulls when he doesn't get his own way (eg, on one of the news links in the first post it mentions how he allegedly changed the locks on the cage of a sick tiger so nobody could gain entry to treat her!!). A person from tv2 was interviewed saying that "the lions would return to the screens in one form or another" -- apparently the series is about conservation not just about one person.

 

[Chlidonias]

here's the report from tv3 (had to wait for the news to finish before they put it on the internet); there's a video on there too if you want to check it out.
3 News > Business > Story > Lion man out of a job, but the show will go on

The man known to TV fans as ‘the lion man’ is out of a job.

His mother had him suspended and this afternoon the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry revoked his licence to operate the wildlife park.

It follows years of controversy surrounding Craig Busch but the producers of The Lion Man series say the show will go on in some form without him.

The only television celebrities to greet tourists at Zion Wildlife Park near Whangarei today were lions.

Craig Busch, the human face of the television series, has been replaced as the park's operator by former Auckland Zoo boss Glen Holland.

“I've literally had no correspondence with Craig. I've been employed by the family to help them and had no correspondence with Craig,” Mr Holland said.

A spat between Craig Busch and his mother Patricia prompted MAF to investigate animal welfare and management of the park - eventually they were satisfied, but then Patricia wrote saying her son's employment had been cancelled.

MAF animal import and export manager Rachelle Linwood said: “the conflicts could result in his ability to work as an operator. The operator has to apply to MAF standard and the conflict was around roles and responsibilities and whether he could work to that standard”.

MAF gave Craig Busch five days to challenge his suspension. They say they did hear from his lawyer but it didn't stop their decision to pull his licence.

The park is now operating as normal.

The Lion Man TV series screens in 121 countries, but nothing has been shot for a year.

The lion man couldn't be reached for comment today but it is understood that despite being out of a job, he will continue to live at the park.

 

[Chlidonias]

Lion Man in row with mother over wildlife park - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz

Thursday, 13 November 2008
The man who gained world-wide fame through a television series about wild animals is no longer in control of the Zion Wildlife Gardens in Whangarei.
Lion Man Craig Busch has been in dispute with his mother, Patricia Busch, who is also park's managing director, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF).
It was believed Mr Busch no longer controlled the park after details of a MAF investigation were made public, The New Zealand Herald reported today.
MAF documents were released to TVNZ under the Official Information Act and expressed concern that animals were kept in crowded, insanitary conditions.
Inspectors at one stage considered having 40 big cats put down. They were also concerned about barriers after a damaged fence was not fixed for a day and a half, and the keeping of lions and tigers in the same enclosure.
Improvements had since been made at the park which gained worldwide fame through the TV series The Lion Man, the newspaper said.
MAF investigations manager Greg Reid said the immediate animal welfare issues at the park had been addressed but one investigation was continuing although he would not reveal details.
He said he was satisfied "domestic or business issues" were not affecting animal welfare or public safety.
Mrs Busch, said she was pleased concerns MAF had were in the past apart from one still being addressed.
"They never said and we don't believe they were contemplating putting animals down," she told the newspaper.
Young lions and tigers were kept together and the damage to a boundary fence caused by a storm last winter was fixed as soon as it was found.
It is believed Mrs Busch and her son Craig were in a civil dispute over management of the park which was to be heard in court next week.

this line is interesting: "MAF investigations manager Greg Reid said the immediate animal welfare issues at the park had been addressed but one investigation was continuing although he would not reveal details."

It would appear that the board that runs Zion probably isn't a real board of trustees. Setting something up as a charitable trust is often more of a tax dodge than anything (trusts don't have to pay taxes). I know of one place who's board consists of the owner, his wife and their two pre-teen children, and another that consists of the two owners. It rather sounds like the board at Zion is probably composed of Patricia Busch and maybe a couple of other related persons. In other words, the employment of Glen Holland as manager may not change anything. I guess its a matter of "wait and see what happens".

 

[Chlidonias]

Lion Man caged by his mother in bitter feud at park - Sunday Star-Times - National News

THE FEUD between Craig Busch and his mother, Patricia Busch, over management of the Zion Wildlife Gardens is so heated the Lion Man now has to phone his mum every time he, his partner and their visitors want to come and go from the lion park.


On Wednesday, Craig's lawyer, Wayne Peters, asked High Court judge Justice Paul Heath to prevent any moves by Patricia to stop her son and new partner from leaving or re-entering their house, which is in the middle of the park, and just 10m from her home.

Craig who shot to international stardom through his Lion Man TV series also sought an interim injunction against Patricia and associated companies listed as Country Developments Ltd, Wildlife Pictures Ltd and Primal Productions Ltd for allegedly breaking agreements in 2006 and 2007.

A hearing has been scheduled for Friday in the High Court at Whangarei.

Craig has been locked in an increasingly bitter and public dispute with Patricia, who is now running the Whangarei park with the help of former Auckland Zoo chief Glen Holland, whom she hired to replace her son.

In Heath's oral judgement Patricia's lawyer, Gilbert Walker, said "no steps will be taken to eject" Craig and his partner from their home before an Employment Relations Authority ruling expected to happen some time after Friday's interim injunction hearing.

Peters also asked for orders to allow Craig's friends, medical staff and lawyers access to the house. Craig is recovering from an operation.

Heath said he was satisfied that orders were required, but limited visitors to just medical staff and legal representatives for health and safety reasons.

"The concern is that there is a licence to operate a wildlife park, and health and safety issues arise if the perimeter gate were opened and accessed by persons who were not supervised by an appropriate employee of the company operating the park," he said.

Arrangements were made for Patricia, or one of her staff, to be contacted by phone to let people in and out of the property.



Earlier last week a heartfelt letter from Craig's dad, Kevin Busch, to his ex-wife, pleading for her to let their son run the park, was released to the media. Kevin described Patricia's actions in taking over the park as a "low blow".

In May last year Craig made headline news when he was convicted of assaulting his former partner in 2005.

It has been revealed a Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry investigation at the lion park earlier this year found 40 big cats were in unsanitary and crowded conditions. Improvements had since been made at Zion, and Maf investigations manager Greg Reid said the immediate animal welfare issues had been addressed.

 

[NZ Jeremy]

Craig Busch has had his licence revoked -- but he will remain living on the property which certainly can't bode well considering the stunts he pulls when he doesn't get his own way (eg, on one of the news links in the first post it mentions how he allegedly changed the locks on the cage of a sick tiger so nobody could gain entry to treat her!!).

That explains everything you need to know about this idiot..!

 

[Chlidonias]

Lion man tries to get his park back - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz

The "lion man" Craig Busch was back in court in Whangarei today seeking to get back control of his wildlife park.

Busch alleges his mother Patricia Busch has overstepped her authority in sidelining him from the business he built up.

His lawyer, Wayne Peters, told the High Court that Busch agreed to let his mother take over in 2006 after a period of personal difficulty, Radio New Zealand reported.

Busch was convicted in 2006 of seriously assaulting his then-wife.

Mrs Busch raised a loan of more than $1 million to repay Mr Busch's company and personal debt.

In exchange, she was given power of attorney, sole directorship and her son's shares in the company.

Mr Peters says it was always agreed that Mr Busch would repay the loan and take back control of the park.

 

[Chlidonias]

Lion Man suffers court setback - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz

High Court judge has refused to grant "lion man" Craig Busch an interim injunction, as he tries to wrest control of his Whangarei wildlife park back off his mother.


TV personality Busch had alleged Patricia Busch had overstepped her authority in sidelining him from the business he built up, after she injected money to keep it operating.

In refusing the interim injunction, Justice Paul Heath today said Mrs Busch had provided money "where one could not justify an investment on purely commercial grounds".

Busch agreed to let his mother take over in 2006 after a period of personal difficulty. He was convicted that year of assaulting his partner.

Mrs Busch raised a loan of about $1.7 million against her own property to repay her son's company and personal debt.

In exchange, she was given power of attorney, sole directorship and her son's shares in the wildlife company.

Wayne Peters, lawyer for Busch, said it was always agreed that he would repay the loan and take back control of the park.

Justice Heath said he urged mediation, but it was clear "there are difficulties in direct communication".

He suggested Busch sell his shares, or have Mrs Busch buy them, or sell the park to a third party.

If mediation does not resolve the conflict, it will return to court next year.

 

[NZ Jeremy]

Good, it seems some of our judges still have a little sense...

 

[tetrapod]

Any updates on this saga? Are we likely to see the Lion Man back on TV again or is he finished?

 

[Chlidonias]

Any updates on this saga? Are we likely to see the Lion Man back on TV again or is he finished?

Craig Busch will be going back to the Employment Court some time this month. I'll post any developments.

As to whether "The Lion Man" will return to the screen...who can say? If Craig Busch regains control of Zion then I'd say its a certainty that TV2 (or another company, like maybe Animal Planet seeing they like that sort of thing) would film another series, given its popularity and money-making ability around the world. If he doesn't get the park back in his name, then TV2 may still film another series without him. Of course they'd have to give it a new title, and somehow I don't think it would be as popular and it would probably be canned pretty quickly

 

[Chlidonias]

Lion Man turns to eBay - New Zealand news on Stuff.co.nz

Craig "Lion Man" Busch was the pride of animal fans the world over as the star of the TV show based around his big cat park.

Viewers in more than 100 countries were thrilled as the Kiwi hero manhandled his beloved lions and tigers around Zion Wildlife Gardens without a seeming care for his own safety.

But from saving his endangered creatures from a dire future, Craig is now signing photos of him and the cats, then placing them on auction website eBay in a bid for cash to claw back the park from his mum Patricia.

Patricia took up residence at the park in July 2006. She raised a loan to repay Craig's company and his personal debt and in return was given power of attorney and sole directorship until he could repay her.

But their relationship soured so much Craig is no longer employed by the park and a court order has had to be sought to allow him to come and go from the property at Kamo, outside Whangarei.

Craig is selling 14 x 21cm autographed photos on eBay featuring either a lion, tiger or cheetah under the

heading "Signed lion man photos help Craig Busch return to Zion".

In the advertisement the Lion Man pleads for bidders to buy a photo to help him buy back the park.

"It seems that the only solution is to buy out Patricia's share in the business," Craig writes.

"If you would like to see Craig reinstated at Zion Wildlife Gardens you can help by purchasing a signed photo."

Craig also writes that he's been "sacked" from the lion park by his mum who has "sidelined him from the business he set up".

He writes on the auction site that his employment dispute with Patricia goes to court late this month but in the meantime "he has to ask permission every time he wants to go to and from the Lion Park, where he lives, and is denied access to the animals he loves and who love him".

Craig's photos are proving popular, with the first picture selling for $79 and a second for $262.

More photos will be placed on the website in the following weeks.

Bidders have expressed sadness at Craig's plight.

"I just want to express my utter sadness to your situation. Your series brightens up my life. Seeing what you have done with the cats is truly wonderful," one bidder wrote.

Another writes: "I am so sad for you having read how you have been treated. I really wish you all the best and if there is anything I can do to support your cause I will."

In response Craig who assures bidders he is in fact the person hosting the auction and the star of The Lion Man TV series which screens in over 100 countries thanks them for their support and directs them to his website nzlionman.com for more information.

In reply to one question, Craig says the auctions are about making people realise the situation he is in.

"These auctions are not so much about raising the money (although that would be nice) but about making people realise what is going on. Some people have criticised that I am doing this on eBay but I owe it to the cats to keep up the fight."

Craig convicted in May last year of assaulting his former partner and TV show co-star, Karen Greybrook in 2005 also declares on the auction page that producers of the Lion Man TV series have announced the show will go on "in some form without him".

But Great Southern Television managing director and Lion Man producer Philip Smith denies that.

"We haven't announced that at all and there's no plans (to produce another series) until a whole lot of legal issues are resolved," he said.

Smith also dismissed rumours on Facebook that series four would return in July without the Lion Man.

He said at some stage this year the company would sit down with those in charge of the lion park to discuss a future series but there are no "immediate plans" for another series.

"Great Southern will sit down with the park, ask what's best for the animals, ask what's best for the park, and if there is a future for the series and funding for it as well. Then we will go forward. If there isn't, then we won't."

Timeline:

- In December Craig Busch asked the Employment Relations Authority to order his temporary reinstatement at Zion Wildlife Park until his claim of unjustified dismissal against Zion Wildlife Gardens and Zion Wildlife Services is heard on January 27.

- He was sacked for alleged serious misconduct. Allegations against him include breaching safety rules, inappropriate behaviour in the workplace, performance issues, not keeping proper training records and causing loss of revenue by cancelling tours. Busch disputes all the claims.

- Four of the park's seven staff gave evidence to the authority to say they found Busch had become impossible to work for. Several said they would resign if he came back to the Zion Wildlife Park.

- Authority member Yvonne Oldfield declined Craig's application, saying given the case's background, she did not think he would suffer an injustice by waiting until the full hearing. She also said Craig had a foot injury that would prevent him resuming work at this stage and an order for reinstatement would be of no practical effect.

 

[NZ Jeremy]

Well as I've said before this well not end well...

And now I can add that idiots are allowed to post on auction sites...

 

[taun]

No, Bengal tigers with a recessive gene exist, making them white. They are not a species or subspecies, they're basically freaks of nature who I believe are all decended from one animal, making them inbred. It's wrong that he tells everyone he's saving a species, and the same goes for white lions. West Midlands safari park does the same thing, and it gives zoos a bad name in saying they're educating and conserving a species.

Not really freaks of nature, just not capable of surving in this day and age.

I agree with you thou, it gives out the wrong message saying they are saving these "species".

 

[taun]

kaneda, TV can be misleading, however those enclosures (cages) do seem very small considering the number of animals some of them hold.

Also is it right then to start a "Zoo" with the animals in NOT adequate enough enclosures, but say its alright because some time down the line they may build bigger enclosures for them.