Twycross Zoo bosses warn of 'mass cull' of animals if lack of funding continues

[dutchman]

It has twice failed to qualify for Government support



A mass cull of the animals at Twycross Zoo may have to happen if its funding shortfall continues, managers have warned.

Chief executive Dr Sharon Redrobe gave the stark warning at a panel of the all-party parliamentary group for zoos and aquariums.

The attraction is struggling to meet its £650,000-a-month costs despite reopening at the start of June, and bosses have urged that Government funds are still needed to keep it open.

Dr Redrobe told the panel: “Failing animal welfare and the rundown of facilities, we all know is another road to closure.

“The loss of a large collection of endangered species unique in the UK such as Twycross Zoo's would be devastating and when I say loss, dare I say it, potentially a mass cull as we are all in the same boat.

“No other zoo worldwide has the funds to create new enclosures immediately as they cost millions.

“We are all facing the same ending.”

Managers at the zoo were infuriated to discover that they did not qualify for a £100 million rescue pot for zoos and aquariums announced by the Government on June 27.

The stipulations for the funding means that the UK’s largest conservation centres, including Twycross, are not eligible.

Dr Redrobe said: “As a group of large charity zoos we were extremely disappointed to learn that this fund effectively excludes us and is capped at too low a level.

“Whilst £100 million is indeed a large total fund, we were extremely frustrated to discover that we would be legally constrained from meeting the eligibility criteria as it requires us to have too few months’ running costs left.

“Moreover the 800-thousand-euro cap is less than one month's running costs and so is woefully inadequate for our needs and places thousands of animals at risk.”

Twycross was likewise too large to qualify for a previous zoo support fund set up by the Government.

Dr Redrobe added: “We urgently call on the Government to work with us on revisiting the criteria for this fund to truly help save our nation's zoos.”

The attraction reopened on June 1, with strict rules including visitors having to pre-book a time slot, a one-way system and parts of the zoo being closed off.

Food outlets on site are open for takeaway only and the gift shop is open.

To book a ticket or make a donation, visit the Twycross Zoo website.

[Melisandre]

Yet this government can bail out multy million pound companys airlines etc Oh I forgot may be its be because they dont go to zoos instead they go to their 2nd or 3rd holiday homes they own in France and Europe for holidays or brakes while telling us to spend our holiday money here in the UK hypocrits come to mind.
I hope the zoo gets enough donations to keep going as it is not just the animals that will suffer but jobs too for those bringing up families.