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                                                              I was overpopulating the zoo

In what the Mail on Sunday itself calls “an astonishing admission”, Vicount Weymouth, heir of the Longleat estate, has admitted that the killings were due to a ‘catastrophic’ breeding campaign. It also is alleged that Longleat has killed cubs on previous occasions.

Ceawlin Thynn, the Viscount Weymouth, took over the running of the estate in 2010. He now says that there was a deliberate expansion of the lion population at Longleat to ensure there were always cubs on view for visitors. Additionally, he admits there was a failure to ensure contraception was used properly to control the population. He now promises a complete overhaul of the way the safari park is managed. Chief Executive Bob Montgomery also admits  “There was an insistence that there were always cubs for guest reaction and ultimately to bring in more  people.” 

LionAid welcomes these admissions but notes that in the Mail on Sunday article there was still no mention of an apology given by either Ceawlin or Bob. 

LionAid reiterates that there is still much to be done at these zoos. We mentioned earlier that uncontrolled breeding is rampant to provide young animals of all species to attract the viewing public. These animals overpopulate zoos and have to be disposed of – even by killing them. 

This continuing practice shows a complete lack of due diligence by the regulatory body BIAZA in terms of ensuring that zoos follow best practices in ethical care of their animals. BIAZA has been challenged many times by us about breeding of white lions, for example, at Paradise Wildlife Park and West Midlands Safari Park –  the latter sent lions via an intermediary to a travelling circus in Japan. 

In addition, the disclosure makes a mockery of all previous statements by Longleat in the media about the reasons why the lions needed to be destroyed, including that they were violent and inbred. It also calls into question statements made by Longleat’s Jonathan Cracknell during an interview by BBC Points West.

LionAid would, as a result of this incident at Longleat and their consequent deceptions like to see the following changes:

1. BIAZA now takes their regulatory role seriously and insists on transparency of “management” procedures at all zoos, including publication of all animals killed because of mismanaged breeding programmes;
2. Longleat loses their EAZA and BIAZA-approved status until an independent commission determines that management of the animals under their care is restored to ethical requirements. Clearly many zoos and BIAZA have failed in self-regulation.
3. Longleat, Paradise Wildlife Park and West Midlands Safari Park, among other zoos in the UK engage in a serious commitment to conserve wild lions and other wild populations of species in their care. Their current programmes appear to significantly lack in such endeavours while the public believes it is one of the real reasons to support the continued existence of zoos.
4. Longleat takes a hard look at this fact: in their financial report ending December 2012, Longleat Enterprises reported that twelve directors were paid a total £2,251,000. At an average salary of £187,500 what are these directors contributing to the proper management of the zoo?

It is very sad that the lions at Longleat were killed because of now-admitted mismanagement. Let’s hope they did not die in vain, and now zoos will keep their public trust rather than hiding their practices from any scrutiny.  

And the viewing public should understand that visiting zoos to see cute new cubs and babies of the species may well come at a terrible price.  .

Picture credit: http://bit.ly/1feetwb

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