Plans are underway to add Cheetah to this relatively unknown collection:
A LEADING South Lakeland attraction which provides wildlife experiences has had its zoo licence renewed.
South Lakeland District Council's licensing sub-committee heard that the licence currently held by the Predator Experience, at Ayside, was due to expire on January 31.
But after visits from the council's licensing officer, as well as from a DEFRA-approved inspector, the attraction, which offers experiences such as walking with wolves, has had its licence extended for another six years.
Predator Experience, which also offers visitors to get up close to eagles, hawks and foxes, is run by the husband-and-wife team of Daniel and Dee Ashman.
"We have run Predator Experience since 2001 completely within the remit of our licence and it has been something we really enjoy doing," Mrs Ashman told the meeting.
"We operate on a low numbers, high quality basis. It is not somewhere you go and say this is a pretty bird. We talk to visitors about how animals have evolved and the issues facing the species.
"We also talk about natural environments of animals and how important it is to protect all elements of our ecology."
She said on average there are around three experiences a day with four people in each group.
Asked by Cllr Clare-Feeney Johnson if the couple had experienced any issues since the original licence was issued, Mrs Ashman replied: "We have had no animals loose. We have never had cause for concern from the authority about the standard of welfare."
In December, the Lake District National Park Authority rejected plans for an enclosure to house three cheetahs on the site.
The couple are currently in the process of applying for a separate Dangerous Wild Animal Licence, to keep the cheetahs as part of their own personal collection, as they plan to appeal the LDNPA's decision.
One of the conditions on the licence is to not allow any public viewing or contact with the cheetahs.
Other conditions include adequate firearms provision and to construct a perimeter fence around the attraction to discourage unauthorised entry and act as an aid to the confinement of animals in the zoo.
A LEADING South Lakeland attraction which provides wildlife experiences has had its zoo licence renewed.
South Lakeland District Council's licensing sub-committee heard that the licence currently held by the Predator Experience, at Ayside, was due to expire on January 31.
But after visits from the council's licensing officer, as well as from a DEFRA-approved inspector, the attraction, which offers experiences such as walking with wolves, has had its licence extended for another six years.
Predator Experience, which also offers visitors to get up close to eagles, hawks and foxes, is run by the husband-and-wife team of Daniel and Dee Ashman.
"We have run Predator Experience since 2001 completely within the remit of our licence and it has been something we really enjoy doing," Mrs Ashman told the meeting.
"We operate on a low numbers, high quality basis. It is not somewhere you go and say this is a pretty bird. We talk to visitors about how animals have evolved and the issues facing the species.
"We also talk about natural environments of animals and how important it is to protect all elements of our ecology."
She said on average there are around three experiences a day with four people in each group.
Asked by Cllr Clare-Feeney Johnson if the couple had experienced any issues since the original licence was issued, Mrs Ashman replied: "We have had no animals loose. We have never had cause for concern from the authority about the standard of welfare."
In December, the Lake District National Park Authority rejected plans for an enclosure to house three cheetahs on the site.
The couple are currently in the process of applying for a separate Dangerous Wild Animal Licence, to keep the cheetahs as part of their own personal collection, as they plan to appeal the LDNPA's decision.
One of the conditions on the licence is to not allow any public viewing or contact with the cheetahs.
Other conditions include adequate firearms provision and to construct a perimeter fence around the attraction to discourage unauthorised entry and act as an aid to the confinement of animals in the zoo.
