Useless when OLD

A BROWN bear rescued by Brigitte Bardot and brought to Scotland has become the latest symbol of conflict between animal-rights campaigners and the debt-ridden Glasgow Zoopark.
Bongo the Bear was to be put down tomorrow, but the plans have been shelved after Advocates for Animals claimed it would be the first in a mass cull of animals unable to be rehoused when the zoo closes in September.

Management at the zoo last night dismissed as "disgracefully sensationalist" the claims by the animal-rights campaigners. They claim Bongo’s death will be a mercy killing, as the beast is suffering from old age and disease.

The war of words came as it emerged that other Scottish zoos have no space to commit to the Glasgow animals.

The 100-acre site at Calderpark in the east end of the city has run up debts approaching £3.65 million and saw a rescue plan involving the sale of land to housebuilders hit by planning delays.
The Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SSPCA) has been brought in to assist the zoo in finding new homes for the 68 species.

However, yesterday, management at Edinburgh Zoo and Blair Drummond Safari Park, in Stirlingshire, admitted they cannot offer accommodation for the beasts.
A spokeswoman for Edinburgh Zoo said: "We don’t have any empty enclosures, so we couldn’t take any big animals.

"But there is a chance we could help with some of the smaller animals, such as the reptiles."
She added: "We just don’t have the resources or the staff."

Gary Gilmour, the manager of Blair Drummond Safari Park, said they could not help in the relocation, adding: "We don’t have the space to take any more animals."
Mr Gilmour said that taking tigers or lions could not happen as they exist in complex social groups which would not accept new additions.

Mr Gilmour said that Glasgow Zoopark was a victim of a slump in visitor numbers.
He added: "It’s a catch 22 situation. If you don’t have the number of visitors coming in then you won’t have the money to improve the enclosures and the conditions."

Advocates for Animals yesterday slammed the zoo, insisting that the death by lethal injection of Bongo would set a precedent for the four remaining bears which, aged between 20 and 30, would be considered too old to move to other sanctuaries.

Yvonne Taylor, the charity’s campaign co-ordinator, said: "They have exploited these animals over the years and they deserve to be cared for in the best possible standards for the rest of their natural lives. Now the zoo is closing, they are saying that any animals not rehoused should be destroyed.

"If there is any money left over from the sale of land, it should be used to provide for these animals and make sure they live out the rest of their lives in comfortable surroundings."
Ms Taylor added that the zoo had declined offers from the charity to help in the bid to rehouse the beasts through global contacts in the animal welfare community.

"We have been completely ignored by the zoo," she insisted. "We have found potential homes for these bears but been told to post the details.

"The zoo says they are outraged by these scare stories, but these will continue unless the zoo works with people in the open."

A spokeswoman for Glasgow Zoopark said there was no "schedule for the slaughter of our animals", adding: "While it is true that Bongo the bear was due to be put down on Wednesday, this decision was taken purely on health grounds as Bongo is a very old, unwell bear and it is entirely unrelated to the zoo’s closure.

"Bongo will no longer be put down on Wednesday. It will happen in the near future, but the date for this cannot be made public following this media frenzy."

Bongo was rescued from a zoo in Italy in 2000. The cost of his transfer was met by the foundation set up by Bardot, the former French actress turned committed animal lover. However, the bear, which has had previous operations for testicular cancer, stomach ulcers and arthritis is now considered too unwell to move to another home. The zoo’s vet, Emma Timperley, has advised that Bongo’s deteriorating quality of life warrants euthanasia.