Horror images reveal scale of alleged animal abuse at Britain's 'worst zoo'

But it stands accused of failing to prevent avoidable animal deaths, neglecting animal welfare and breeding a hostile working environment.

In the past, the attraction has made headlines over the death of 24-year-old zookeeper Sarah McClay who was mauled by a tiger, the escape and subsequent shooting of a white rhino, and the deaths of 30 lemurs in a fire.

Though the zoo came under new management in 2017, ex-employees still maintain serious concerns about conditions inside - collaborating with a BBC investigation to turf up a litany of photo and video footage of animal suffering at South Lakes.

The images, taken by staff between 2017 and 2019, purport to show horrifying conditions for animals inside the zoo.

One shows a zebra, apparently sedated on the floor surrounded by its own faeces with its hoof trapped in metal bars, holding its leg and upper body off the ground.

More images show a capybara covered in cuts and open wounds from fighting with other animals in overcrowded conditions, as well as a giraffe whose bony 'horns' - called ossicones - on its head appear bloodied and raw from injuring itself on the bars of its own enclosure.

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One ex-staffer, given the name Jane by the BBC, said "fighting" and "inbreeding" were common because "animals were housed in inappropriate social groups".

She added: "Overstocking of animals led to persistent bullying... severe injuries and often deaths."

While Mark, who worked at the zoo as recently as 2022, said some animals would have meals restricted "so they'd be hungry for guests to feed them".

He recounted one incident in which "a peacock flew into the giant otter enclosure and the two giant otters ripped its head off in front of a school group."

Cumbria Zoo Company Limited, which runs the attraction, said it "wholly denied and disputed" it had ever "engaged in any practices which have led to the death, injury or poor treatment of animals".

Another former worker, James, detailed allegations of a "humiliating" bullying culture at the zoo. He told the BBC how "staff were broken at times, completely broken", adding: "There was shouting at people and belittling people. The morning meeting turned into isolating and humiliating people."

Jane agreed, adding: "There was shouting over the radio and everyone could hear it. I wasn't junior staff and I felt awkward. I saw staff in tears, I saw staff leaving regularly."

CZCL hit back, saying: "We do not accept that there is a 'bullying culture' or that staff are overworked. We take any allegations of bullying extremely seriously, and when they are made they need to be fully investigated and dealt with."

Bosses continue to deny "each and every allegation" and point to dozens of positive, independent inspections.

A statement from Cumbria Zoo Company given to GB News condemns the BBC's report.

Karen Brewer, its chief executive, said: "We are incredibly disappointed by the BBC article which contains false and misleading accusations, which we continue to refute. We are taking legal advice regarding possible action against the BBC and others.

"The article is based largely on claims made by unnamed individuals or people with links to our landlord Zoo Investment Company (ZIC) who we have been in a long-running legal dispute with.

"These malicious claims are a direct result of an ongoing campaign against us by ZIC, which stretches back more than three years, to unlawfully undermine and disrupt the running of the zoo.

"Many of the claims presented by the BBC are based on events that happened years ago, some of which pre-date our taking over the running of the zoo in 2017.

"The photos presented, while clearly upsetting and distressing, do not provide any context to the circumstances in which they happened and do not tell the whole story. Nor do they reflect the huge improvements in welfare and veterinary care standards we have made since taking over the zoo.

"Animal welfare remains our number one priority at all times. All zoos are subject to stringent licensing requirements and are inspected regularly. Since we took over the running of the zoo, 33 independent Government inspectors have visited the zoo over seven years, and each have approved our standards.

"Our first local authority licence for running the zoo was issued in 2017 for one year as standard. The next licence was issued in 2018 for four years and the latest one in May 2022 for four years. We think this speaks volumes about how we run the zoo and the high animal welfare and veterinary care standards we set."