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Axe hangs over Zion's 36 big cats

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Tue, 17 Jan 2012 8:25a.m.

The receivers have confirmed the hearing will take place on Wednesday

The receivers have confirmed the hearing will take place on Wednesday

The receivers of a Northland wildlife park have called for 36 endangered big cats to be removed from the zoo or killed.

Lawyer Evgeny Orlov, who represents Zion Wildlife Gardens, has told Radio New Zealand Rabobank has applied for an urgent application in the High Court in Auckland to have the animals dealt with.

The receivers have confirmed the hearing will take place on Wednesday but declined to comment further. The hearing was initially planned for February.

VIDEO: A peek inside Lion Man's Zion park

The Whangarei park was opened in 2002 by Craig Busch, nicknamed The Lion Man, but the operation was taken over by his mother Patricia in 2006 after she raised loans to help pay off the park's growing debts.

Craig Busch lost his job in 2008 and the pair haven't been on speaking terms since.

Zoo keeper Dalu Mncube was killed by a white tiger at the park in May 2009.

NZN

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Comments

18 Jan 2012 09:15a.m.

Derek wrote:

I am gobsmacked over the suggestion that these lions are to be killed. Come on New Zealand there as to be another way. How do we as New Zealanders stand up to this disgusting suggestion by an overseas bank?
RABOBANK you need to be ashamed!!
Come on New Zealand..........we cannot allow this to happen in this country, or any other country for that matter. What will humanity think of us. Does anyone with the know how, know how the country can punish or stop RABOBANK from proceeding with their evil intent before it is too late.

18 Jan 2012 08:06a.m.

Jean wrote:

Shocking! What is the big rush to have them dealt with? Surely some time should be allowed to find new homes or a solution that wouldn't involve killing these cats. I would donate to save them.

18 Jan 2012 02:19a.m.

Tom wrote:

Just another example of the almighty dollar coming first... the sacred bottom line, coming before lives. Obviously these people are more interested in wealth and couldn't care less. Its a symptom of the times. Boycott Rabobank, help save these magnificent creatures, and defeat these fincancial vampires.

17 Jan 2012 09:13p.m.

janet Young wrote:

What a shocking thought that we as a country could think of doing such a horrendous thing to these beautiful creatures.Craig Busch had a wonderful asset for the tourist trade, which took a lot of love & hard work to achvieve until it struck financial & other problems .I would love to see him get the chance to come back & carry on with a bit of support from the government & other interested parties. I know it would be devastating for New Zealand's reputation if they are allowed to carry this out. Those beautiful rare creatures didnt ask for this & deserve to live out the rest of there lives happy & at peace with man whom they have been entrusted to.

17 Jan 2012 06:40p.m.

Ashlee wrote:

i'm sorry to anyone else who has a different opinion on this, but this absolutely disgusts me, i am 19 years old and i would be able to make logical decisions on behalf of the lives of these animals better then this bank can. sure there in a lot of debt but surly putting down 36 of the worlds most endangered big cats is not the answer to the question even more so when there are people out in the world risking their lives to keep these cats from getting poached and used for their fur! Rabo Bank you sicken me!

17 Jan 2012 06:32p.m.

Greg wrote:

The people who are commenting saying that the cost is too much need to think about the families who keep having kids despite not being able to afford them. Should they be euthanised too? (That question was hopefully, obviously rhetorical.)

17 Jan 2012 06:29p.m.

Heidi Tacbian wrote:

ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTED RABO BANK AND PWC. Take some of the profit you send overseas every year and sponsor these endangered cats. You should be ashamed ... BOYCOTT RABO and PWC!

17 Jan 2012 06:20p.m.

Sue O'Riordan wrote:

SHAME on you Rabobank, I will NEVER bank with you. You need to be boycotted! How can killing innocent big cats in this country be legal? I am happy to donate to have these amazing creatures relocated to somewhere safe.

17 Jan 2012 04:52p.m.

Lisa elley wrote:

And how muxh was spent on happy feet for 1 animal! Mm. Mr key save these lions please!

17 Jan 2012 04:24p.m.

Bridget wrote:

I remember last year when in the US they shot all those tigers and lions, and thinking to myself how lucky I am to live here in NZ, nothing as awful or such a waste of endangered animals would happen here? I hope I am still right and nothing as sickening as we saw last year in the US occurs again, maybe one of the other Banks ASB, Westpac could start a fund up, that we can all donate to, if not able to keep them together rehouse them throughout NZ, our highlight to Orana Park last week were the lions, and the white rhino...to destroy these animals is unforgiveable