Taking payment of this kind could require a zoo regulation to come into force, he said. He said: “The conditions for these lions and tigers are much more cramped than zoo-like-conditions because they are part of a travelling circus, however if they are effectively working as a zoo by taking payments then they should be complying with the higher standards of zoo regulations. “Lions and tigers do not naturally stay in such confined spaces so it is a really heart breaking to see them being kept in the very cramped conditions that we see here. It is no secret that I want a ban on all wild animals in circuses, however this is about whether the existing legislation is being complied with and whether ‘donations’ are being used to get round complying with existing zoo regulation.”
Mr Stewart has written to the chief executive of Aberdeenshire Council and the Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs asking them to look into the situation.
Mr Chipperfield has previously defended the practices at the farm. He said: “My animals are taken care of perfectly well where they are. The environment in which they live will allow them to outlive zoo animals, and I make that claim based on years of experience. I work closely with and seek the advice of academics, such as vets and professional animal behaviour experts, and not charities whose objection to what I do is purely ideological.”
A spokesman for Aberdeenshire Council confirmed that contact had been made with Mr Stewart.
He added: “In a submission that we gave to the Scottish Government we have asked the farm to stop accepting donations and, as far as we’re aware, they have stopped.”
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