Sign our petition to call on the council to close down South Lakes Safari Zoo

We are calling on Westmorland and Furness Council to revoke the licence of South Lakes Safari Zoo following damning investigations by Born Free, other animal organisations, zoo inspectors and the BBC into catastrophic failings at the zoo to look after the animals in their care. 

The zoo has been mired with problems dating back to 2013, including the tragic death of a keeper who was killed by a tiger, almost 500 animal deaths in just three years and the controversial breeding and euthanasia of lion cubs. 

Born Free first visited the zoo in 2017, shortly before the zoo had its licence temporarily revoked, and raised concerns with the local licensing authority in respect of animal welfare and visitor health and safety.   

On 17th October 2022, following multiple reports from members of the public through our Raise the Red Flag platform relating to animal welfare and the general running of the zoo, Born Free visited again. Our observations during our visits in 2022 and 2024 provided further evidence for the continuing failure of the living conditions for animals and associated procedures to meet the standards required under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, or the Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice, in many respects.  

Issues previously identified by Born Free and zoo inspectors include:  

• Rhinos being confined to tiny indoor stalls, with access to outdoors operating on a ‘timeshare’ system, resulting in some individuals being confined indoors for over 17 hours per day; 

• Inappropriate dietary provision, particularly in the case of the giraffes who are exploited for visitor feeding ‘experiences’; 

• Animals observed performing stereotypical behaviours; 

• Inadequate heating and UV provision; 

• Unnatural animal social groupings and environmental parameters

Please sign our petition calling on Westmorland and Furness Council to: 

• Revoke South Lakes Safari Zoo’s zoo licence, and close the zoo permanently. 

• Work with stakeholders and appropriate bodies to move all animals held at the zoo to suitable and accredited sanctuaries. Assessment must be made to determine viability for release or, if release is not suitable, be located to an environment free from exploitation and appropriate for their specific needs.