Lion Man takes a mauling in Britain

Sunday News

BRITISH zoos have been warned off hosting "Lion Man" Craig Busch during his trip to the UK – designed to thank fans and generate funds for his legal battles over ownership of Zion wildlife park.

Busch arrived in England early this week, hoping to entertain fans at a series of leading British zoos.

But those plans were scuttled after the intervention of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums – the governing body of zoos and animal parks in the UK.

Biaza director Miranda Stevenson said, while her organisation hadn't banned Busch, it had made it clear to members that the Kiwi's view of conservation differed from what it stood for.

"They (zoo management) changed their mind after they had investigated more deeply into the messages that he was putting out," Stevenson told Sunday News from London.

"The truth of the matter is that we have no say over who our members invite.

"But the one thing that we will point out to them is to check whether the people they are having are promoting the same values as those of the association [Biaza]. And that is the only advice that we give.

"Our association obviously supports the correct captive breeding of pure species to benefit wild populations – that is not the message that is put out on Mr Busch's website.

"I have absolutely no comment whatsoever on the way he interacts with his animals – it just doesn't put out the same message as our association does. And I think you will find a lot of zoos turned him down without even consulting us for exactly the same reasons."

Stevenson said she knew Busch had "contacted a lot of zoos" in the UK, hoping they would host him.

Busch was unavailable for comment, but his spokeswoman said he was yet to receive an official explanation for the British zoos' snub.

UK-based fans had instead arranged a series of "private meets".

"The feedback from the fans has been overwhelming," the spokeswoman said.

Busch was last year sacked from Zion Wildlife Gardens by his mother, Patricia Busch.

The Employment Relations Authority is set to rule on the dismissal. Busch has also lodged High Court action seeking $230,000 damages and the cancellation of Patricia Busch's shareholding.

Dartmoor Zoological Park, in Devon, England, is among the zoos to have changed their decision to host Busch.

Sourced Sunday News