Like it or not provided that NAZF can comply and meet the standards of the Zoo Licensing Act they will remain open; membership of BIAZA is not a requirement to opening and running an animal collection in the UK.
Councils can not make judgements on “moral grounds” as regards these matters as they have to be seen to be fair and objective. If they don’t then an aggrieved party can go a higher authority and the council could find itself in serious trouble. And in this case I don’t mean God – sorry could resist that
If NAZF wanted more big cats to display they certainly could obtain them. In fact, not being a member of BIAZA has basically given them a green light to do what they like provided they do not break any national or international laws.
In fact, this is why BIAZA members are discouraged from using circuses and animal dealers to supply animals unless it is very clear where the animals in question were obtained.
I think the reason NAZF was expelled is that BIAZA felt it was deceived. It would have been interesting to see what would have happened if NAZF had been completely open and honest in the matter with BIAZA and others. I think BIAZA may well be thankful this didn’t happen because it would have put them in a very difficult position.
It is also possible that the circus wanted the animals back as they were on breeding loan.
Actually obtaining animals from a circus was not really the issue I think it was using NAZF as a breeding facility that may have supplied animals back into the circus that appears to be the problem for many people. Although, of course, nothing illegal in this. The whole issue of wild animals in circuses in the UK is in stasis anyway and it remains legal and this is a question of subjective morality.
In the days when wild animal circuses were common circuses like Billy Smarts and Chipperfields etal used to have winter quarters where they could breed animals anyway. In Europe this remains the case and I am aware of a number of circuses breeding thier own animals including big cats and, believe it or not, sea lions.
And, of course, these two circuses families mentioned above were involved in safari parks where animals bred there would also sometimes be used to supply circuses. This was never a secret BTW.