Teenage thugs attack animals at popular safari park

Apr 20 2008 By George Mair

Blair Drummond Safari And Adventure Park Teen Thugs Attack Safari Park Pets

SCOTLAND'S only safari park has banned visitors from getting close to the animals after a series of sickening attacks.

Thugs have kicked llamas and pot-bellied pigs, beaten goats with branches and thrown stones at wallabies.

They speared an apple on a goat's horns and goaded others to chase it at Blair Drummond Safari Park.

Animals became ill at its pets farm after visitors ignored warnings and fed them beef and ham sandwiches and chocolate.

David Booth, chief game warden at the park, near Stirling, said: "Visitors could walk among the animals at the pets farm.

"But the behaviour of some people - mostly teenagers and kids - has made it impossible.

"The problem has got worse in the last couple of years. Some things that happened are unbelievable.

"Llamas, goats, pigs and wallabies were hit on the head, kicked and chased. Animals like pot bellied pigs are too slow to run away if attacked.

"There were also incidents where drinks cups were shoved on to the pigs' noses. Kids squirted them with powerful water pistols.

"Some parents put their children on the backs of animals for photos.

"We built animal-only areas so they had somewhere to go without all the attention but kids just hopped over. Stirling University monitored the animals and found they were suffering.

"We have to put their welfare first. Any stressed animal could also pose a potential danger to a child.

"Segregation has worked well. Already, the animals are clearly more relaxed.

"They can still come up to the fence if they want to be fed but the cruel incidents have been stopped dead. If someone does something they don't like they can walk away."

Visitor Billy Miller, a business consultant from the Isle of Bute who was there with daughter Lauren, three, said: "Keepers have done the right thing. The animals' well-being must come first."

Ian Barbour, 51, of Paisley, said: "It was nice for our kids to interact with the animals but they need to be protected from people who would harm them."