Zion Wildlife Gardens Zion to face charges over tiger attack
- Thread starter Chlidonias
- Start date
Sad news any animals death but the hysteria and accusations on Craig Busch's facebook site is unbelievable!
This is Zoo Chat not Craig Busch's fanpage . I made this comment in memory of a beautiful and much loved cat that we all came to know and love from watching the Lionman series. Hysteria will not bring Shia back to life , but it seems so sad that this is the second cat that has died within a period of several months at the park . Tragic indeed.
madbushfarm
Well-Known Member
I'll just point out that the headliner in the media report contradicts itself. the official Department of Labour media release at no time mentions that they will be charging Zion Wildlife Gardens. As it says they will not be naming the persons to be charged until the court hearings.
Yes it was very sad news about Shia passing away. She was a stunning Lioness - grumpy when i saw her but I got some great photos of her and Zion together. Of course they were later moved to a new larger enclosure which they enjoyed- that was for certain from the videos ZWG have posted on their Facebook Fan Page. The team took Shia's loss very hard. Hopefully the test results from the autopsy will be available to the park this week.
Yes it was very sad news about Shia passing away. She was a stunning Lioness - grumpy when i saw her but I got some great photos of her and Zion together. Of course they were later moved to a new larger enclosure which they enjoyed- that was for certain from the videos ZWG have posted on their Facebook Fan Page. The team took Shia's loss very hard. Hopefully the test results from the autopsy will be available to the park this week.
madbushfarm
Well-Known Member
The Park has had a very difficult year however they are trying to improve the situation for the cats. I'm going there again very soon. I was there in July just a month after the tragedy. The team had taken the loss of Dalu very very hard. MAF are working with ZWG on a collaborative basis and it's working. Tim Husband as Operator at the time had introduced an enrichment program as well. ZWG have continued to stay with that program. I've gotten to know some of the team as friends they're good people and genuinely they care about the well being of the animals at the park.It's hard because things have been dragging out month after month. I've always kept an open mind on this entire situation. Let's hope it all works out for a positive rather than a sad ending.
We can be reassured that the cats will NOT be put down . If Zion Wildlife Gardens were to close down, or the cats were at risk in any way Craig Busch's Big Cat Rescue Trust are willing and ready to step at any time to help the cats .
madbushfarm
Well-Known Member
I doubt very much the park is going to close down or the cats put down - MAF were quoted in late 2008 in a Northern Advocate article that they would not be euthanising any of the animals. The park is being run as the MAF Regulations require. I'll be straight as this. I saw everything at the park. Nothing was hidden. I have over 300 images I took on the 27th of July. All kinds of claims have been made, all kinds of theories. Yes it was one visit but I was there for a while. It comes down to let the team get on with the job and let the outcome get decided by the High Court Judge on the business issues. At the end of the day the cats are being properly looked after and the only way for anyone to realise that is to actually go to the park and see for themselves then make their own conclusions. I'll be visiting again in late January/Early February.
NZ Jeremy
Well-Known Member
I've been to the park too and took many photos, I wish I could say I'm as hopeful as you but the government will not pour money into feeding these cats indefinitely, I don't really see how they can find enough places to re-home them all as given the nature of the cats no ARAZPA zoo would take them...
madbushfarm
Well-Known Member
One thing I do is always respect your well informed opinion. Just one tiny point. The government do not support the park. It is a private facility. Donations of stock have been kindly made by local farmers to help feed the cats as well as support from the local community. ZWG have also introduced an Adopta-a-Cat Program as well. I'm a positive person by nature but I am also realistic as well so your points are well and truly taken. The Adopt-A-Cat website is below if you'd like to check it out.
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blackpanther
Well-Known Member
Ptig i don't quite understand your post, could you elaborate for me please?
blackpanther
Well-Known Member
thats interesting i didn't know that, is this written anywhere?
madbushfarm
Well-Known Member
That is interesting Ptig so basically what you're saying is there is no place for them in the ARAZPA Institutions (as previously stated) and that the member organisations within ARAZPA have been discussing the cats situation. Correct me if I am off base here on this. Thanks for the info. Much appreciated as always.
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NZ Jeremy
Well-Known Member
No ARAZPA institutions would take them due to the hybrid nature of most of the cats, the SSPs are very specific about pure breeding, species and even sub-species...
Private zoos would have to take the cats and there aren't enough or enough places in Australasia...
As I understand it, ZWG doesn't cover it's cost and the government is currently "topping" it up but I could be wrong...
Private zoos would have to take the cats and there aren't enough or enough places in Australasia...
As I understand it, ZWG doesn't cover it's cost and the government is currently "topping" it up but I could be wrong...
The tigers would not be permitted to enter Australia.
As a CITES 1 species - only Sumatrans can be imported and only to ARAZPA zoos that participate in the management program for that sub-species.
As a CITES 1 species - only Sumatrans can be imported and only to ARAZPA zoos that participate in the management program for that sub-species.
1) being hybrids or mutants certainly wouldn't be a point in absolutely preventing Zion's cats going to ARAZPA zoos. Sumatran tigers are the subspecies of choice for the region's zoos but there's no "law" forbidding any zoo from holding any others. Whatever the "rules" on breeding hybrids, they don't stop a zoo simply housing them (eg Auckland's hybrid macaws). In any case the TAG recommendations are very hypocritical, as they actively encourage the hybridisation of, eg, giraffe and zebra subspecies, or even separate crested porcupine species (northern and southern)!NZ Jeremy said:
What would stop the cats going to ARAZPA zoos would be the lack of space. Whether or not the ARAZPA zoos in NZ would be interested in housing Zion's mutant cats (and I suspect few, if any, would), I very much doubt that there would be room or money to rehouse as many big cats as Zion has.
2) I don't know if the government is helping the park financially as you suggest, but as it is a private organisation it would seem odd if they were (anyone who does know, feel free to chime in)