500 animals dead in just FOUR years – report reveals horror at South Lakes Safari Zoo where tiger mauled keeper to death

ALMOST 500 animals have died or been put down in four years at a zoo where a keeper was mauled to death by a tiger, a damning report reveals.

The toll at South Lakes Safari Zoo includes a jaguar that chewed off one of its paws, a rhino that was crushed to death and two snow leopard cubs found partially eaten in their enclosure.

Seven healthy lion cubs and five young baboons were also “euthanised” because there was not enough room for them.

And 18 Sacred Ibis birds were shot by zoo founder David Gill after he was threatened with prosecution for letting them fly free.

Maddie Taylor, of the Captive Animal Protection Society, called on the local council to shut the zoo.

She said: “The findings are some of the worst we have come across in 60 years. Our visit to the zoo combined with the zoo inspectors’ reports shows high death rates of animals, animals in ill health and a lack of understanding about how to meet even the most basic needs of the animals under their care.

“We urge the local authority to close this appalling zoo down.”

South Lakes in Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, was fined £450,000 after Sumatran tiger Padang fatally mauled 24-year-old zookeeper Sarah McClay in 2013. The tiger was culled in 2015. The zoo, which has 250,000 visitors a year, is asking Barrow Council to renew its licence.

But a report for the council blames poor management, emaciation, hypothermia, poor veterinary care, uncontrolled breeding and overcrowding for the high death toll among the 1,500 animals.

Chris Draper, of the Born Free Foundation, said: “The inspection reports outline a host of deeply concerning problems relating to animal welfare and human safety.

“Entirely preventable animal deaths, welfare problems, failures in vet care and management issues appear to be rife.”

The other animal fatalities include two giraffes — one of which was obese — a reindeer that suffered an infected fly bite and a kangaroo that got an infected tooth.

An African tortoise named Goliath was electrocuted against a fence and a squirrel monkey’s decomposed body was found down the back of a radiator.

A ring tailed lemur was run over by a truck and a wallaby died following an abscess on its tail. A flamingo died after breaking a wing.

The two 15-week snow leopards, named Miska and Natasja, had been unveiled to TV crews amid great fanfare weeks before their deaths.

A spokesman for Mr Gill told the BBC: “The current arrangement sees the entire zoo site leased to Cumbria Zoo Company Limited.

“Mr Gill remains the licence holder, but otherwise has stepped away from all trading and management activities.” Councillors will decide whether to renew the licence next week.