WATCH: Black Isle Wildlife Park speaks to MFR News
Black Isle Wildlife Park plans to remain open but it's giving up its exotic animals
The family-run Black Isle Wildlife Park has confirmed it plans to remain open, but without its exotic animals.
The operators of the North Kessock attraction have given their first broadcast interview to MFR News.
It's after reports that the Drumsmittal site was being forced to shut-down after a specialist vet appointed by the Scottish Government found "serious deficiencies" during an inspection at the zoo.
It came about after visitors had complained to public officials which prompted an initial investigation by Highland Council.
But the owners have told MFR News that the local authority's decision to take-away their zoo license came around four-weeks after the local business had already volunteered to give it up.
A family spokesperson has explained that the owners were becoming increasingly concerned by the expense and red-tape burden of having a zoo license, in order to show-off its more exotic creatures.
As a result their plan was to return to the park's core domestic animals, as a sort of petting zoo.
A special inspection was instigated by Highland Council which later lead to an apparently damning report by a Scottish Government-appointed vet.
But despite claims in the vet's report of "serious deficiencies", the Black Isle Wildlife Park insists that the findings related to inappropriate enclosures for some of the exotic animals and was not a comment on the treatment of the animals.
MFR understands that the family behind the animal attraction which was set up in the 90s has been going through personal difficulties which may have impacted on the running of the Black Isle Wildlife Park.
Trina Hastings launched an online petition a couple of years ago, calling for the park's closure after visiting the site.
The online campaign took the support of 1,000 signatures.
Earlier this year the council carried out a number of inspections of the park in response to complaints by members of the public about issues relating to animal welfare and general maintenance of the zoo.
An inspection carried out by a Highland Council Environmental Health Officer accompanied by a council-appointed vet highlighted a variety of welfare and husbandry issues.
Following the inspection, the council acted under the Zoo Licensing Act and arranged a further special inspection to be carried out by a Scottish Government-appointed specialist vet.
Findings of the special inspection and the specialist vet’s report indicated that the zoo was found to be seriously below the standards required for operators to be in possession of a zoo license, and was non-compliant with a large number of standard conditions of zoo practice.
The specialist vet stated that: "due to serious deficiencies found and non-compliance with most standard conditions, the inspection team cannot recommend that a license continues to be in place for this zoo."
Highland Council old MFR News that officials will continue to work closely with the operators to ensure the animals’ welfare and to re-house the exotic animals in appropriate establishments.