Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary
| Location | 124 Gray Road, Kamo, Whangarei, New Zealand. |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
| Land area | 80 acres (32 ha) |
| Number of animals | 28 |
| Number of species | 4 |
| Major exhibits | Big cats |
| Website | www |
Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary (formerly Zion Wildlife Gardens/Kingdom of Zion) is a privately owned zoo located near Kamo, Whangarei, New Zealand, currently sited at the former Zion Wildlife Gardens property. The facility houses 28 cats of varying species, mainly lions and Bengal tigers, a black leopard, and two African cheetahs. The park is privately run and is funded through tours and donations.
While a few of the cats kept are semi-wild, the majority of the cats have been hand reared at the park. The park was the location of the documentary series The Lion Man, which documented events at the park and elsewhere.
Contents
History
Zion Wildlife Gardens
Craig Busch established Zion Wildlife Gardens in 2002 from bare land situated on Gray Road, Kamo, Whangarei. Busch had previously had the zoo based at Kerikeri.
During 2006 Zion Wildlife Gardens became financially troubled. Busch accepted a bail out package from his mother Patricia Busch, and in accordance with an agreement dated 13 July 2006,[1] he resigned as director and appointed Mrs Busch, as sole director.[2]
Busch continued working at Zion until his dismissal on 3 November 2008.[3]
During November 2008, media reports revealed an investigation into the welfare of the cats at the zoo had been conducted by MAF. Concerns included animals being kept in unsanitory conditions, damaged enclosures and the surgical declawing of 21 lions and 9 tigers.[4]
In February 2009, the Ministry of Primary Industries (formerly MAF) released the results of its investigation into the surgical declawing of 21 lions and 9 tigers at the facility between the years 2000 to May 2008. The contents of the report revealed vets had been initially approached by Mr Busch to have the procedures done. Busch had requested the procedures were to be kept in confidence. The findings in the report found any question of prosecutions under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 were problematic due to MAF veterinarians being aware, but not questioning the procedures at the time.[5]
On 27 May 2009 a zookeeper, South African National Dalu Mncube, was mauled to death by a white tiger while cleaning an enclosure.[6] The tiger was shot dead in order to reach Mncube.[7] The same tiger, a 260-kilogram (570 lb) male named Abu, had bitten another handler earlier the same year, who was rescued by Mncube.[8] The park closed and re-opened after less than one month, following changes to the big cat enclosures to improve safety for handlers and the public.[9]
During June 2013 Zion Wildlife Gardens operator Patricia Busch lost her assets. The finance company that held the security over the property took possession, after Mrs Busch was unable to continue the mortgage payments.[10]
In December 2013, the Coroner's report[11] on the inquest into the death of senior cat handler Dalu Mncube cleared the management and staff of any wrongdoing in relation to the incident. Shortland recommended regulatory reform and new legislation for health and safety in zoos and animal parks.
Receivership
David Bridgman and Colin McCloy of Price Waterhouse Coopers Limited were appointed receivers of the company that operated Zion Wildlife Gardens, Zion Wildlife Gardens Limited (In Receivership & In Liquidation), on 26 July 2011. Subsequent to this, the official assignee was appointed liquidator of the company on 22 August 2011, after the Inland Revenue made a successful application to the High Court to have Zion Wildlife Gardens Ltd placed into liquidation.[12]
On 31 January 2012 the receivers announced the sale of Zion Wildlife Gardens Ltd. to Zion Wildlife Kingdom Ltd.[13][14] The receivers had been on site that morning to advise those at the park of the sale. Details of the sale were considered to be commercially sensitive and as a result, the receivers did not comment further on the sale and purchase agreement or the new owners.
Kingdom of Zion
On 31 January 2012, the park with land and assets, was sold to Zion Wildlife Kingdom Ltd, owned by Tauranga-based accountant Ian Stevenson and Cambridge based businesswoman Tracey McVerry and Nicholas Mes.[15] On 5 April 2012 the facility was reopened as Kingdom of Zion. The day-to-day management of the facility is through Earth Crest Limited[16] which has as its sole shareholder Suzanne Eisenhut who is Craig Busch's partner.[17]
On May 10, 2012, Zion Wildlife Kingdom co-director and shareholder, Tauranga based chartered accountant Ian Stevenson, was censured by the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants, and was ordered to pay the $42,889 cost of his prosecution. Stevenson pleaded guilty to three charges arising from a client complaint; dealing with client monies through his practice account rather than a trust account, withdrawing fees without authority and preparing accounts without due care and diligence.[18]
In April 2013, Tauranga based business consultant Sam Bailey failed when he applied the High Court in Tauranga to have the park's operating company Earth Crest Limited, placed into liquidation. .[19] Associate High Court Judge Jeremy Doogue reserved his decision into the application made by Bailey to liquidate Earth Crest Ltd (trading as Kingdom of Zion Ltd) after the hearing in May 2013.[20]
In October 2013, the Employment Relations Authority gave former worker Neville Bradford leave to pursue an unjustified dismissal claim against Kingdom of Zion's operating company Earth Crest Limited. Bradford had been dismissed in July 2012, after working at Kingdom of Zion as a groundsman since the end of January 2012.[21]
In November 2013, Zion Wildlife Kingdom Ltd co-director and shareholder Ian Stevenson, was struck off by the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants. Stevenson was charged with conduct unbecoming of an accountant and negligence and/or incompetence in a professional capacity. He was also charged with breaching the NZICA’s rule 21.4(b) and breaching the institute’s code of ethics.[22]
On January 31, 2014 the shareholding and directorship of Zion Wildlife Kingdom Ltd, was transferred to Bolton Equities Ltd an Auckland-based investment company.[23]
During May 2014, the Employment Relations Authority ruled Earth Crest Ltd, the company operating the business Kingdom of Zion, was required to pay former employee Neville Bradford the sum of $11,000. The amount related to unpaid wages owed to Bradford by his employer. The Authority also found Bradford had not been unjustifiably dismissed by Earth Crest Limited.[24]
In July 2014, the Ministry of Primary Industries ordered the zoo to close to the public until the enclosures were upgraded to meet containment requirements.[25]
During early August, the business operated by Earth Crest Limited was purchased by Bolton Equities. The company planned to upgrade the zoo facility for a future major tourist attraction with the name changed to Kamo Wildlife Sanctuary.[26]
Animals
Lions
- Zion
- Shikira
- Abdullah
- Cleo
- Tshaka (deceased)
- Aslan (deceased)
- Cora
- Jabu
- Narnia
- Tanza
- Savannah
- Shumba
- Zamba
- Shia (deceased)[27]
- Samson (deceased)
- Shania (deceased)[28]
White lions
- Gandor
- Laduma
- Amafu
- Imvula
- Marah
- Moya
- Sabie
- Sibili
- Timba
- Themba
Tigers
White tigers
- Jahdu
- Rewa
- Tygo (deceased)
- Shanti
- Azra (on loan to Pouakai Zoo)
- Anila (deceased)[31]
- Kala (on loan to Pouakai Zoo)
- Rongo (sent to Africa)
- Kiwi (sent to Africa)
- Aotea (sent to Africa)
- Tane (sent to Africa)
- Khan (deceased)
- Abu (deceased)
Other species
- Mandla - black leopard
- Kenya - cheetah
- Thabo - cheetah
- Foxy - chacma baboon (deceased)
- Zoe - serval (deceased)
- Silas - serval (deceased)
References
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External links
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