More than 500 animals have died in just three years at South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria, England. The harrowing images and stories from this facility reveal a horrifying pattern of neglect, abuse, and outright disregard for the lives of the animals entrusted to its care.
This isn’t just a zoo – it’s a death trap, and it must be shut down immediately to prevent further suffering. Sign the petition to urge UK authorities to close this facility for good!
Here are just a few of the most shocking details:
- Primates clung to heat lamps, desperate to stay warm in improperly heated enclosures.
- Rhinos were crammed into stalls so small they couldn’t even turn around.
- A white rhino was so desperate for a better life, it actually escaped – only to be shot and killed as a consequence.
- A zebra was found with its hoof trapped in the bars of its pen, reportedly after becoming distressed from being kept indoors. It had to be euthanized.
- A capybara was discovered covered in bloody cuts after fights broke out, and inbreeding among animals was reportedly common.
- A school group witnessed two giant otters violently mauling a peacock that had wandered into their enclosure.
For years before this point, this zoo has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons. In 2013, a keeper was tragically mauled to death by a tiger due to safety failures, resulting in a £297,500 fine. In 2017, it was revealed that nearly 500 animals had died between 2013 and 2016. Despite promises of change, little has improved under new management.
Despite these horrors, the zoo remains operational. Former employees report a toxic workplace, with staff “broken” and powerless to stop the cycle of animal neglect.
We cannot allow this facility to operate any longer. Animals deserve safety, proper care, and dignity – not a life of misery and preventable death.
Sign this petition to demand the immediate closure of South Lakes Safari Zoo and urge authorities to relocate the remaining animals to sanctuaries where they can receive the care they deserve.
This article by Mathew Davis was first published by One Green Planet on 25 November 2024. Image Credit :Martin Blazicek/Shutterstock.
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