Tiger death at Howlett
Archive - December 2001

CAPS calls for zoo closure after escaped tiger shot dead. Press release 7th December 2001.

The Captive Animals' Protection Society today called for a public inquiry and the closure of Howlett's Wild Animal Park in Kent following yet another tragic incident involving the zoo's tigers.

Four year old Indian tiger Sariska was shot dead after escaping from her enclosure yesterday. Fortunately the zoo was not open to the public at the time, otherwise the incident could have resulted in the loss of more lives.

Two signs at Howlett's Wild Animal Park in memory of the death of keepers by tigers at the zoo.

This is just the latest in a series of incidents at the zoo - three keepers have been killed by tigers and we understand that at least two tigers have escaped on previous occasions.

Government guidelines on zoos state that "All animals should be kept in enclosures so constructed as to avoid escape", and CAPS is greatly concerned about public safety at this zoo and believes that there may have been infringements of the Zoo Licensing Act. We will be making our concerns known to Canterbury council, the authority that licenses the zoo.

Diane Westwood, Executive Director of CAPS, said:

"Zoos claim to exist for conservation of endangered species. The death of the tiger at Howlett's tragically illustrates the fact that conservation in the wild is the only way to save endangered species. How can the public trust a zoo that cannot keep tigers from escaping? This tiger was only trying to escape captivity, but she paid with her life. This is another example of zoos consuming wildlife, rather than conserving them."

HOW YOU CAN HELP

	Don't visit zoos and safari parks - your money keeps them in business.
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Photographs © Captive Animals Protection Society