Fife Animal Park owner faces animal welfare charges

A ZOO owner is facing court accused of a string of animal welfare charges, including leaving an emu suffering from a painful beak ulcer and illegally buying lemurs, tortoises, marmosets and wildcats.
Fife Animal Park which was closed down in March 2014. Picture: TSPLFife Animal Park which was closed down in March 2014. Picture: TSPL
Fife Animal Park which was closed down in March 2014. Picture: TSPL

Peter Lockhart was co-owner of the Fife Animal Park, near Cupar, which closed in February after its owners were unable to sell the business.

Now he faces allegations of causing animals unnecessary suffering and of failing to ensure their welfare.

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Lockhart, 50, from Newton of Falkland, Fife, faces a total of 16 charges under the Animal Health and Welfare Act, the Control of Trade in Endangered Species Regulations and the Horse Identification (Scotland) Regulations.

Defence solicitor Amy Fox told Dundee Sheriff Court yesterday that Lockhart was not yet in a position to enter a plea in the case.

Sheriff Charles Macnair, QC, continued the case without plea for three weeks for discussions between the Crown and defence lawyers.

It is alleged that between 24 January, 2013, and 14 February this year, Lockhart failed to provide fish, reptiles, birds, mammals, primates and rodents at the park with a “suitable, clean and ventilated environment”.

He is alleged to have not provided adequate bedding and a suitable balanced and varied diet; failed to treat conditions from which the creatures were suffering, and failed to protect the animals from injury, suffering and disease.

Another charge states that he failed to provide sufficient nutrition to two Hermann’s tortoises, while a third alleges he failed to provide treatment to an emu with ulceration on its beak, or to provide it with “a suitable environment or exposure to external stimuli”.

He is also accused of buying and displaying “for commercial gain” two ring-tailed lemurs, one red-ruffed lemur, two black-and-white-ruffed lemurs, five Swinhoe’s pheasants, an eagle owl, two barn owls, two wildcats, a lesser sulphur-crested cockatoo and a Geoffrey’s marmoset without authority to do so.

Prosecutors say Lockhart also displayed and offered for sale three Hermann’s tortoises at the park between 27 June, 2010, and 14 February, 2014.

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Three further charges accuse Lockhart of breaking the horse-passport regulations in relation to three animals – including a zebra – at the park.

Fife Animal Park closed to the public in February. The ten-acre site housed 76 species including a zebra, Shetland ponies, meerkats, raccoons and owls.

The park was put up for sale in 2013, but this was blocked by the charity regulator in order to clarify which animals were owned by the Fife Animal Trust.

Shortly after its closure, Fife Council’s protective services senior manager Roy Stewart said: “The welfare of the animals at Fife Animal Park is our primary concern at this time. Although Fife Council doesn’t own the park or the animals, it has a duty to protect them and legally they are now in our care.”

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