Dartmoor Wildlife Park
November 2001

This final section of the Dartmoor Wildlife Park report looks at health and safety.

33. No stand-off barrier and gap in emu fence.	34. Young boy left to close ostrich gate.	35. Children stroking snake.

Health and Safety:

Of all the zoos I have visited on behalf of CAPS I have never noted so many faults with health and safety.

• As can be seen throughout this report stand-off barriers, designed to prevent contact between animals and the public, were either non-existent or inadequate (mainly by being so close to the enclosure fence that you could reach over and put your fingers through). Barriers should be in place to stop people being injured by the animals, to stop people injuring the animals, or to reduce the risk of disease transmission. There were no barriers around the emu / tapir enclosure (picture 33) and many birds of prey. Children would be able to put their hands through the mesh of the emu / tapir enclosure and possibly touch the electric fence on the other side. The gate of this enclosure had such big holes in the mesh that even an adult could fit their whole arm through it. Where barriers did exist virtually all were too close to the enclosure fence.
• Signs warning people that animals may bite were often faded (eg parrots where there was also no stand-off barrier or supervision).
• A young boy (approx 10 years old) was left to close the gate of the ostrich enclosure after a car (driven by the zoo owner Ellis Daw) had driven through (picture 34). The boy clearly struggled to close the heavy gate while a group of ostriches gathered by. Ostriches can kill a human adult with a kick from their powerful legs and a child should never have been put in this dangerous position - in a brief conversation with the boy he seemed concerned about being close to the ostriches and pointed out one in particular to be careful of.
• In the 'Close Encounters' building, although a sink with hot water and soap with signs asking people to wash their hands were provided, there were no paper towels left to dry hands and after children had been handling animals - including a corn snake (picture 35) (reptiles carry salmonella) - staff didn't remind children to wash hands and I did not see one person doing so. Appendix 6 of the SMZP covers 'Animal Contact Areas': "The zoo must have adequate hand-washing and sanitising facilities, close to the contact point ... These should provide running water, soap and disposable towels or hot air blowers" (point 6.9); "Supervisors should ensure that, following contact with animals, children wash their hands. Prominent signs should remind parents or accompanying adults of this" (point 6.10); "If children are in contact with, or feeding animals, prominent signs must warn them not to place their faces against the animals, nor to put their hands in their own mouths afterwards" (point 6.12).

36. Derelict shed in dangerous state.	37. Child stands on breeze blocks to watch tiger cubs.	38. Unsecured gate at Arctic Fox enclosure.

• An old wooden shed next to a bird of prey aviary (there was no identifying sign on the aviary) was in a very dangerous state and looked as though it would collapse if anyone touched it (picture 36). This shed was at the end of the path leading to the aviary, and right next to it, so people - including children - were regularly standing right next to it. The shed wasn't fenced off and there was no sign warning of the danger. This shed should be immediately pulled down before someone is seriously injured or killed.
• There were piles of building materials near the tiger cub enclosure. Piles of breeze blocks weren't fenced off and could easily topple over if someone knocked into them or if a child tried to climb onto them to get a better view of the tiger cubs (picture 37).
• The gate leading into an enclosure where various birds of prey were tethered was unlocked. Anyone could have walked up to the birds and either been injured or harmed the birds. Point 8.6 of the SMZP states: "All animals should be kept in enclosures so constructed as to avoid escape. Gates and doors to enclosures must be securely locked so as to prevent unauthorised opening."
• The observation tower overlooking the lions was closed, but only a piece of flimsy plastic mesh covered the entrance.
• A car driven by owner Ellis Daw was seen driving through the zoo - in the back, with the hatch-back not fully closed, was a keeper with two tiger cubs. I followed the car to the cubs enclosure where there were walked into the enclosure on a collar and lead.
• An old gate was leaned against a gap in the wall near the arctic fox enclosure. This gate could easily be knocked over (it wasn't secured to the wall), and access gained to the perimeter fence of the enclosure (picture 38).
• It would be quite easy to enter the bear enclosure by climbing onto the roof of their indoor house (whose roof isn't much higher than the perimeter wall where the public stand) and from there jump onto the grassy slope.
• The red fox enclosure could be observed by looking over a wall that had a high drop into the enclosure. Children were leaning right over this to try and see the fox.
• Flies were swarming around meat left out in the open in several enclosures and there was a terrible smell from some enclosures, notably the red fox.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

	Contact South Hams Council asking them to revoke the zoo's license: Environment and Development Services Group, South Hams District Council, Follaton House, Plymouth Rd, Totnes, Devon, TQ9 5NE. Tel: 01803 861234, email: environmental.health@south-hams-dc.gov.uk.
	If you would like to help with local campaigning in the area please contact us.
	If you have any information about Dartmoor Wildlife Park - perhaps you have worked there, or know people that do - please contact us. We will treat your information with confidentiality.
	Become a CAPS supporter - you can help to make a difference.

Photographs © Captive Animals Protection Society