Zoo Licensing - who holds the key that locks
the prison?
"In the wild, the snow leopard is native to the mountains of central Asia. Inhabiting some of the most inaccessible terrain on earth, this solitary creature is rarely sighted. "At Southport zoo, on Merseyside, the snow leopards' enclosure is on the edge of the five-acre site abutting Pleasureland, a fairground where screams from white-knuckle rides pierce the air. "Every four minutes, for 10 hours a day in the summer season, the 65-year-old carriages of Pleasureland's celebrated wooden rollercoaster, the Cyclone, clatter round their circuit. "One animal welfare organisation, the Captive Animals Protection Society (Caps), lists Southport among Britain's worst zoos. And a concerted campaign against it has thrown into sharp focus the system by which local authorities exercise control over zoo licences. As the law stands, government-appointed inspectors report and make recommendations to local authorities. But the ultimate fate of all zoos is decided by the same council licensing committee that oversees the local lap-dancing bar." A major story in the Guardian newspaper, initiated by CAPS, exposes how the zoo licensing system works and how zoos such as Southport Zoo continue to operate despite criticism from animal behaviour experts, zoo visitors and animal protection groups. Click here to see the full story on the Guardian website. WHAT YOU CAN DO
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