Southport Zoo - update
Archive - July 2002

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

The campaign to close Southport Zoo in Merseyside, and to re-home the two chimpanzees to Monkey World, continues in full swing.

As the deadline for 'improvements' to the chimps enclosure, set by the Federation of Zoological Gardens for the end of July 2002, gets nearer there seems to be very little in the way of a better quality of life for Jackie and Jason.

For years the Zoo has claimed that Jackie and Jason had to live apart as one was hand-reared and the other parent-reared and they therefore would not get on. Since CAPS launched the Free Jackie and Jason campaign in March the Zoo has claimed it was always going to integrate the brothers and they do now spend some time together.

The Federation of Zoos has told Southport Zoo that in addition to integration the enclosure must be enlarged, although it doesn't say by how much and the lack of space in the Zoo prevents this from being anything more than cosmetic.

Monkey World continue to be unhappy at the conditions in which the chimps are housed and have again confirmed their offer to home Jackie and Jason at their sanctuary in Dorset where they will join ten other chimps in a two-acre enclosure with plenty of stimulation and enrichment.

We do not expect the Federation to take any serious action against Southport Zoo and more than likely they will claim that the 'improvements' meet their approval.

Please continue to support the campaign against Southport Zoo, not just for Jackie and Jason but for all the animals there.

In July the Zoo was further embarrassed after CAPS complained to Sefton Council that they were advertising llamas for sale. The Zoo has now been forced to apply for a pet shop licence and told local media that they would be selling llamas, guinea pigs and stick insects to the public.

This 'pet shop mentality' (as one vet described it) reveals yet again the true nature of Southport Zoo. CAPS has asked the Council to reject the licence application on the grounds that it goes against the spirit of zoo licensing legislation - it has nothing to do with conservation, education or research.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

	If you live locally to Southport and would like to get involved in the campaign please contact Southport Zoo Action. Southport Zoo Action PO Box 38, Manchester, M60 1NX email zooaction@hotmail.com
	Help publicise the campaign - click here for leaflets and t-shirts.
	For further details of how you can help Jackie and Jason click here.
	Become a CAPS supporter - you can help to make a difference.

Photographs © Captive Animals Protection Society