Visitors to Irish zoos ‘in danger of being attacked by animals and birds’

VISITORS to many licensed Irish zoos are in danger of being attacked by a variety of the animals and birds on show and are exposed to infections such as salmonella and bird flu.

A report on more than 200 zoos throughout the EU found conditions in many of them were “appalling” for the animals and the public.

Of the 10 inspected in Ireland, none complied with all the regulations but Daniel Turner, of the Born Free Foundation, who carried out the work, said they were “much better than in many countries”.

Eagles, vultures, hawks, sea lions and reptiles came into contact with people much too easily while in some cases visitors were encouraged to handle them.

In some cases, black vultures, eagle owl species and Himalayan vultures are tethered but separated from the public by only a knee-high cord that offered minimal protection, Mr Turner said.

People are encouraged to handle the birds and are not encouraged to wash their hands after, despite the fact that up to 70% of emerging infections come from wild animals, the report says.

But wildlife biologist and bird expert, Lothar Muschketat whose Eagles Flying centre near Sligo was criticised in the report, disagrees.

“I can sign up to the Born Free Foundations standards but our birds are disease free and we like to educate people and let them learn for themselves about these birds and in that way they will support their conservation,” he said.

Dublin Zoo’s pool enclosure for its Californian sea lions — rated as a category one hazardous animal — came in for criticism with the report saying there should be an additional barrier between the pool and the public.

A statement from Dublin Zoo said safety was their first priority and the barriers surrounding the Californian sea lions had been 100% effective for the past 40 years.

A spokesperson for Fota Wildlife Park said the Born Free Foundation was anti-zoo and their opinions were not based on scientific fact.