Free the Southport Two
Archive - March 2002

UPDATE: Southport zoo is to close and the chimps moved to a sanctuary in South Wales. Click here for more details.

The Captive Animals' Protection Society has called on Southport Zoo to hand over its two chimpanzees to the care of the Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre after being inundated with complaints from zoo visitors about the conditions the chimps are currently in.

Southport Zoo in Merseyside has previously been described by CAPS as one of the worst zoos in the country and has been repeatedly criticised for failing to provide for even basic needs of some of the animals. The Zoo is also situated next to a noisy fun fair and roller coasters thunder past some animals every four minutes during the summer season.

The two chimpanzees, brothers Jackie and Jason, have been of major concern to CAPS for several years and we believe Southport Zoo and the Federation of Zoological Gardens (the industry's trade body) have failed to sufficiently act on our concerns for the welfare of the chimps. Respected ape sanctuary Monkey World has offered a home for Jackie and Jason. The chimps were for years kept alone in small barren enclosures at the Zoo but would be socialised into a group of other chimps at Monkey World where they would share a two-acre enclosure with lots of enrichment and stimulation.

Monkey World, based in Dorset, are world-leaders in rehabilitating abused apes, and is currently home to 56 rescued chimpanzees. None of these chimps knew each other but they have been successfully integrated into stable groups.

As part of our campaign to secure a new home for Jackie and Jason we have produced campaign materials asking the public to write to the Zoo, the Federation of Zoos, and Sefton Council (the licensing authority for the Zoo) asking them to allow the move to go ahead.

The campaign is also supported by primate experts including the Monkey Sanctuary Trust and celebrities such as TV presenter Wendy Turner-Webster and actor Martin Shaw.

Dr Alison Cronin, Scientific Director of Monkey World commented:

"I have visited Southport Zoo and the conditions are not acceptable. This situation has been carrying on for several years with no attempt to make improvements. We have offered a home at Monkey World for Jackie and Jason, where they would live with ten others just like themselves."

Diane Westwood, Executive Director of the Captive Animals' Protection Society, said:

"Such intelligent primates such as chimpanzees should never be kept in the conditions that Jackie and Jason are in at Southport Zoo. They have complex needs and are social animals. Keeping them in solitary confinement in small enclosures with little or no enrichment in totally unacceptable. There could be no better home for Jackie and Jason than at Monkey World, and we call upon Southport Zoo, the Zoo Federation and Sefton Council to allow the move to go ahead as soon as possible."

Wendy Turner-Webster, Presenter of 'Pet Rescue', said:

"I support the campaign by CAPS to ensure the release of Jackie and Jason to Monkey World. Having been to Monkey World I know that there is no where better in the UK for the chimps. It is important that they are moved soon to give them a better quality of life than they presently have."

Martin Shaw, who recently played the title role in 'Judge John Deed', has called on Southport Zoo to "consider releasing Jackie and Jason into the care of Monkey World, where they would be able to enjoy a far more natural, and consequently less stressful lifestyle."

WHAT YOU CAN DO

	Contact Southport Zoo and ask them to allow Jackie and Jason to be handed over to the custody of Monkey World. Southport Zoo Princes Park, Southport, PR8 1RX Tel 01704 548894, fax 01704 538102, email info@southportzoo.co.uk
	Contact the Zoo Federation and ask them to encourage the zoo to hand over the chimps. Federation of Zoological Gardens of GB and Ireland Regents Park, London, NW1 4RY Tel 0207 586 0230, fax 0207 722 4427, email fedzoo@zsl.org.
	Contact Sefton Council's Tourism Department and tell them you won't visit the town until Southport Zoo closes. Tourism Department, Sefton Council 10 Portland Street, Southport, PR8 1LJ Tel 0151 934 2317, fax 0151 934 2326, email tourism.pa@tourism.sefton.gov.uk.
	Help publicise the campaign - click here for leaflets and t-shirts.

Photographs © Captive Animals Protection Society