Call for zoo to be closed

Published on Saturday 15 June 2002 01:00

A LEADING animal campaign group has called for Glasgow zoo to be closed down immediately after claiming it is so badly maintained that animals, staff and visitors are at risk.

Advocates for Animals has compiled a report following a series of inspections at the zoo. It is another blow for the troubled attraction where two former volunteer workers recently said pet animals handed to the zoo for safe keeping were killed and fed to two python snakes.

The organisation claims that the report reveals a series of health and safety problems, including evidence of abnormal animal behaviour, inappropriate housing conditions for the animals and a general lack of maintenance.

The experts say perimeter chain link fencing is broken, making the site easily accessible to would-be trespassers and vandals who could damage animal enclosures and buildings, and that visitors are not supervised. One fire exit is chained and partly blocked by chairs. There are no fire action signs telling visitors what to do in an emergency and fire exit signs are outdated.

The report also highlights numerous unprotected and unsupported electric cables running throughout the zoo, glass falling out of rotting window frames, many zoo buildings in a state of disrepair and numerous old caravans and cabins in an unsafe condition.

The report has been sent to the convenor of Glasgow City Council’s licensing committee and Strathclyde Fire Brigade.