Zoo inspection brought forward after complaint (From Gazette & Herald)

Zoo inspection brought forward after complaint

A ROUTINE inspection of Flamingo Land zoo is to be brought forward after a complaint about the conditions in which animals are kept.

But members of Ryedale District Council's community services and licensing committee were told that the management had carried out extensive investment at the popular tourist destination, which attracts some one million visitors a year.

The committee heard that the district council had received a complaint from a visitor to the zoo.

Steven Richmond, the council's environmental health manager, said: "The complainant has presented several illustrations to the council which purportedly show that conditions at Flamingo Land do not meet the standards required by law."

These, he added, included accommodation for an American alligator, which was now being moved to another sanctuary.

In addition, the complainant condemned the circus tricks which sea lions performed, while giraffes did not have any trees available for them to strip leaves and bark. At a children's farm, it was alleged, the public "were able to interfere with and tease animals".

The committee agreed that a full inspection by three independent experts, which would normally have been held in November next year, should be brought forward to next May or June and the matters raised by the complainant put to them.

In the meantime, the zoo's management is to be supported by the district council in its plans to continue with its policy of improving the park.

Mr Richmond said that when the inspectors last visited the park in October 2003, they had been impressed with the improvements that had been made and thought it commendable that they were to continue.

Mr Richmond said the sea lions had been at Flamingo Land for many years, the public areas had recently been updated and there were now plans to improve the enclosures. "The sea lions do perform for a seated audience, but the accompanying commentary has a strong educational purpose," he said.

The sea lions are able to spend time out of the water if they wish.

The children's farm had been seen on several previous inspections. Also, a new development was planned, with customers riding on electric cars through the farm, but not able to have physical contact with the animals.

Mr Richmond added: "There is no evidence of any ill-treatment."

Coun Elizabeth Shields, the chairman of the committee, said: "I was impressed with the amount of work which has been done since our last visit two years ago."

Lions and tigers now had new accommodation and conditions for the rhinoceros, hippopotamus and giraffes "as near as possible" reflected conditions in which they would live in their native surroundings.

"In the last six months, Flamingo Land has done a great deal of work and I understand the aviaries are now going to be looked at," she said.

Coun Di Keal said: "I was more impressed than I expected to be on our visit."

The medical care of the animals was "excellent", she added but she was concerned about the penguin enclosure which she felt was "smelly and filthy" and the sea lions' pools were "desperately inadequate - quite appalling".

Coun Shields said that while she did not like zoos, "it is a fact of life that many species wouldn't survive today without them".

Dean Cross, head keeper at Flamingo Land, said after the meeting that councillors had been "fair" in the balanced comments about the park.

"We always have a five-year plan to upgrade Flamingo Land and that is still the case."

He added that the park and zoo attracted many school parties and employed local firms to carry out improvement work.

"In many cases, the native habitat of these animals just doesn't exist any more, so we are providing it."

Updated: 10:33 Wednesday, June 08, 2005