Causeway Safari Park--Part 3

Born Free Newletter March 3, 2oo8

HEADLESS LIONS DISCOVERED AT PARK
The Born Free Foundation has been following developments at a Northern Ireland animal centre (formerly Old Causeway Safari Park) where the animal manager, Norman Elder, has been evicted after allowing members of the public to be photographed with a female tiger. Recent reports indicate that the bodies of four decapitated lions have been dug up at the site.

It appears that Norman Elder was put in charge of a number of wild animals by the Northern Ireland Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) following their confiscation (after enactment of the recent Dangerous Wild Animals legislation in Northern Ireland).

We are very concerned about the latest revelations, and have contacted the authorities for answers to our important questions including:

What are the credentials of Mr. Elder that led a Government department to hand over the care of these dangerous wild animals to him, and what official inspections or monitoring processes were undertaken to ensure that the establishment and its practices provided sufficient care for the animals?

If, as has been reported, the lions were humanely euthanased, was this destruction carried out by a licensed veterinarian in an appropriate manner? Was the burial of the bodies on-site officially sanctioned and was it fully compliant with all relevant human or animal health legislation.

Mr. Elder has reportedly claimed to have removed the lions’ heads to prevent them entering the market for taxidermy, and yet he claims to have then buried them a few feet away from the bodies. However, to date the heads have not been discovered. How would separating the heads from the bodies, yet burying both within a few yards of each other, prevent the illicit use of the heads? Where are the heads?

Worryingly, official EHS documents indicate that there were five lions, rather than four – where is the missing lion?