Receivers gain access to Zion Wildlife Gardens

The Zion Wildlife Park in Whangarei. Photo / Dean Purcell

Receivers have gained access to Zion Wildlife Gardens today following a court order issued yesterday.

PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) receivers, who were last month called in to take control of the beleaguered wildlife park near Whangarei, went to the High Court at Auckland yesterday seeking to gain access to the park.

Their lawyer Justin Toebes said that owner Patricia Busch was "holed up" in the park and refusing to let them in.

Justice Mark Woolford ordered that Ms Busch make available all books, documents and information that the receivers could reasonably require, and that she open the park to the receivers at 11am today.

Today PwC partner Colin McCloy said they got into the park safely.

"We are pleased to advise we have gained access to the park and have received full cooperation from Patricia Busch. We're talking with Patricia Busch and now exploring a way forward," Mr McCloy said.

"I want to reiterate we are committed to doing the best we can for the welfare of the wildlife and ensure we continue to maintain the current welfare standards of the animals at Zion Wildlife Gardens (In Receivership)."

The park and its handler, Ms Busch's son Craig, became world-renowned through the Lion Man television series.

But disputes emerged between Ms Busch and her son, which resulted in Mr Busch being dismissed.

Further negative publicity came following the mauling death of big cat keeper Dalu Mncube by a white tiger in 2009.

Ms Busch's lawyer Evgeny Orlov yesterday denied Ms Busch was refusing to let the receivers in.

He said the receivership may not have been valid as Ms Busch had not been served with all the necessary paperwork, and that his client's main concern was for the welfare of the animals.

"Whether or not the receivership is legal, we don't have any real basic objection to the receivers coming in," he said.

"What we do have an objection to is the receivers doing anything with the animals because they seem to think that the animals are theirs to deal with, but they haven't given us any documents relating to the animals."

The court was also told the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry carried out an inspection of the park on August 5 which had raised no animal welfare concerns.

- NZPA