Animals at zoos, aquaria, and wildlife parks in Wales remain under threat of being euthanised because of Covid-19, and Shadow Environment Minister – Andrew RT Davies MS – has repeated his call for the Welsh Government to act.
Mr Davies, whose portfolio also includes animal welfare, said:
“It’s a double-edged sword hanging over the zoos.
“First, because of lockdown, they can’t open, and second, the Welsh Labour Government hasn’t thrown them the kind of lifeline the UK Government has for zoos across the border.
“I understand, as we all do, the reasons why lockdown was imposed. However, when you have somewhere like Chester Zoo in England open today and within the cruel five-mile rule, it makes a mockery of the reasons the First Minister keeps giving.
“Second, for weeks now, Welsh Conservatives have been calling for a Zoos Fund to be established here, but the First Minister and his friends in Cardiff Bay have stubbornly refused to provide help.
“Zoos and other similar places can’t furlough all their staff; animal welfare dictates that some need to be there to keep the animals well, but if this goes on for much longer, then the owners may have to consider the last resort of euthanising healthy animals.
“The next review will be announced on Friday, and I urge the First Minister to both ease lockdown in the safe and sensible way we have suggested – because it’s perfectly feasible to introduce social distancing in these outdoor places if people are allowed to visit them – and start supporting the zoos financially.”