Blackpool Zoo
Archive - April 2001

Are the lives of Blackpool Zoo animals being put at risk for the sake of money?

Disinfectant pads at...	...the entrance to Blackpool Zoo.	A vehicle goes through the children's zoo.	A lemur within touching distance.

At the weekend 31st March/1st April, a supporter of the Captive Animals Protection Society visited Blackpool Zoo. At the gate, our supporter was handed information and was asked questions. To the question 'have you been within 10km of an infected area?', the answer was given, 'not that I know of but I don't know where the infected areas are'. To the question, 'have you any food with you', the reply was, 'yes, biscuits and crisps'. The zoo staff member said that said as long as it was sealed it was OK, the main concern was sandwiches and dairy products. But the food was not checked. The supporter was allowed into the zoo.

The Ministry of Agriculture on its web site gives guidelines for zoos. These include the following instructions:

'Contact between visitors and animals could occur if animals have access to public paths, e.g. animals used to give rides, displays or shows, crossing paths between enclosures. Animals in "kids corners" etc where there is intimate contact. Stop all contact between public and stock. Stop rides, shows, displays or any other events involving direct contact with animals.'

Yet, the elephant performances were on, visitors were in the elephant house, the lemur walkway was open where people were able to get close to the lemurs and visitors were able to walk thru enclosures such as the aviary despite MAFF recommendations. The children's zoo was closed but zoo vehicles and staff were walking and driving into it from the rest of the zoo without extra precautions, not even disinfectant mats etc.

The elephant enclosure is open...	...despite instructions from MAFF.	Elephant performances...	...putting money before lives?

Diane Westwood says:

"Has the Council and zoo management put money before lives? We believe so. Susceptible animals such as elephants were not kept away from the public. Vulnerable animals such as camels, llamas and antelope were all out as usual. Any member of the public could have carried Foot and Mouth into Blackpool Zoo. We believe that the Council should put the animals first, and close the zoo."