Kingdom of Zion

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Kingdom of Zion
Location 124 Gray Road, Kamo, Whangarei, New Zealand.
Coordinates 35°42′2.89″S 174°12′36.74″E / 35.7008028°S 174.2102056°E / -35.7008028; 174.2102056Coordinates: 35°42′2.89″S 174°12′36.74″E / 35.7008028°S 174.2102056°E / -35.7008028; 174.2102056
Land area 80 acres (32 ha)
Number of animals 33
Number of species 4
Major exhibits Big cats
Website www.kingdomofzion.co.nz
Resident African Lion "Zion"

Kingdom of Zion (formerly Zion Wildlife Gardens) is a privately owned zoo located near Kamo, Whangarei, New Zealand, currently sited at the former Zion Wildlife Gardens property. The facility houses 33 cats of varying species, mainly lions and Bengal tigers, a black leopard, and two African Cheetah. Kingdom of Zion Limited was incorporated on 9 March 2012.[1] 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.

History

Wildlife Gardens

Craig Busch established Zion Wildlife Gardens in 2002 from bare land situated on Gray Road, Kamo, Whangarei, after moving it from 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,[2] he resigned as director and appointed Mrs Busch, as sole director.[3]

Busch continued working at Zion until his dismissal on 3 November 2008.[4]

In June 2008, the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry (MAF) investigated the park for claims of animal cruelty and animals being kept in unsanitary conditions. The results of their report were made public on 12 November 2008.[5]

In February 2009, MAF released its findings after an investigation into the surgical declawing (Onychectomy) of 21 Lions and 9 Tigers between the years 2000 - May 2008. The investigation concluded that any prosecutions would be problematic due to the period of time the procedures had taken place, and the involvement of MAF veterinarians,who had not questioned the procedures. The declawings had been carried out by two private veterinary practices both in Northland and in Auckland.[6]

On 27 May 2009 a zookeeper, South African National Dalu Mncube, was mauled to death by a white tiger while cleaning an enclosure.[7] The tiger was quickly shot dead in order to reach Mncube.[8] The same tiger, a 260-kilogram (570 lb) male named Abu, had bitten another handler earlier the same year, who was rescued by Mncube.[9] 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.[10] Handlers were instructed to have no further direct contact with the big cats.[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 wrong doing in relation to the incident. Coroner Shortland in his conclusions recommended that the laws governing zoos in New Zealand should be reviewed and improved.[12]

Receivership

David Bridgman and Colin McCloy of Price Waterhouse Coopers Limited (PwC) 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.

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. Staff were given notice and stood down from work on full pay. 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.

Zion Wildlife Kingdom

On 31 January 2012, the park was sold to Zion Wildlife Kingdom Ltd. On 5 April 2012 the facility was reopened as Kingdom of Zion. It appears that the day to day management of the facility is through Earth Crest Limited which has as its sole shareholder Suzanne Eisenhut who is Craig Busch's partner. Busch appears to be back too but as a self-employed contractor to either Kingdom of Zion Ltd or Earth Crest Ltd. The ownership of the animals is still in dispute.[15]

In April 2013, Tauranga based business consultant Sam Bailey applied to the High Court in Tauranga to have the park's operating company Earth Crest Limited, placed into liquidation.[16]

In October 2013, the Employment Relations Authority gave former worker Neville Bradford leave to persue an unjustified dismissal claim against Kingdom of Zion's operating company Earth Crest Limited. Bradford had been dismissed in July of 2012, after working at Kingdom of Zion as a groundsman since the end of January 2012.[17]

Animals

Lions

  • Zion
  • Shikira
  • Abdullah
  • Cleo
  • Tshaka
  • Aslan
  • Cora
  • Jabu
  • Narnia
  • Tanza
  • Savannah
  • Shumba
  • Zamba
  • Shia (Deceased)[18]
  • Samson (Deceased)
  • Shania (Deceased)[19]

White Lions

  • Gandor
  • Laduma
  • Amafu
  • Imvula
  • Marah
  • Moya
  • Sabie
  • Sibili
  • Timba
  • Themba

Tigers

  • Shikana
  • Indira
  • Kahli
  • Sita (Deceased)[20]

White Tigers

  • Jahdu
  • Rewa
  • Tygo
  • Shanti
  • Azra (On loan to Pouakai Zoo)
  • Anila (Deceased)[21]
  • 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 - Baboon (Deceased)
  • Zoe - Serval (Deceased)
  • Silas - Serval (Deceased)

References

  1. ↑ NZ Companies Office Company Register. "Kingdom of Zion Limited Company Details". New Zealand Companies Office. Retrieved 3 October 2012. 
  2. ↑ "Zion Wildlife Gardens Limited". New Zealand Companies Office. Last updated 25 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-12-09. 
  3. ↑ "2006 Contract". Reproduced at Scribd. Signed June 2006. Retrieved 2010-12-09. 
  4. ↑ Employments Relations Authority. "Determination of the Authority Busch vs Zion Wildlife Gardens Limited and ors". Employment Relations Authority of New Zealand. Employment Relations Authority NZ. Retrieved 6 October 2012. 
  5. ↑ "MAF Alarm over Lion Park". Northern Advocate. 12 November 2008. Retrieved 22 September 2012. 
  6. ↑ Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry. "Investigation Summary Report MAFAW". NZ Ministry of Agriculture & Forestry. Retrieved 15 September 2012. 
  7. ↑ Savage, Jared; Vass, Beck; Tapaleao, Moana (28 May 2009). "Mauling victim 'grandad' of his big cats". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2010-12-12. 
  8. ↑ Vass, Beck (13 December 2010). "Friends, fans struggle to cope with park tragedy". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2010-12-12. 
  9. ↑ Vass, Beck (21 February 2009). "No time for nerves as tiger bit: keeper". NZ Herald. Retrieved 2010-12-12. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 "Zion Wildlife Gardens reopens". TVNZ. 20 June 2009. Retrieved 2010-12-12. 
  11. ↑ Shortland, H. B. "Coroner's final findings into the death of Dalu Mncube". Inquest Report 14 November 2013. NZ Minstry of Justice. Retrieved 25 December 2013. 
  12. ↑ Powley, Kathryn (8 December 2013). "Handler's bravery highlighted in fatal attack by big cat". New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 10 December 2013. 
  13. ↑ "Update on Zion Wildlife Gardens Limited". pwc.co.nz. PricewaterhouseCoopers. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 4 October 2012. 
  14. ↑ NZ Companies Office (23 May 2012). "Zion Wildlife Kingdom Company Details". business.govt.nz. NZ Companies Office. Retrieved 15 September 2012. 
  15. ↑ "Kingdom of Zion open for business with Lionman Craig Busch". northernadvocate.co.nz. The Northern Advocate. 6 April 2012. Retrieved 22 April 2012. 
  16. ↑ Bay of Plenty Times (24 April 2013). "Man in court dispute with Zion Wildlife owner". Bay of Plenty Times. Retrieved 31 December 2013. 
  17. ↑ Dinsdale, Mike (5 October 2013). "Zion worker's go-ahead to fight unfair dismissal". Northern Advocate. Retrieved 26 December 2013. 
  18. ↑ Edge, Kristin (8 December 2009). "Double blow for Zion". Northern Advocate. Retrieved 28 October 2013. 
  19. ↑ Kebbell, Chris. "Official Information Act Request 8 April 2013". OIA Response. NZ Ministry of Primary Industries. Retrieved 28 October 2013. 
  20. ↑ Ali, Imran (16 October 2010). "Tiger killed at Zion". Northern Advocate. Retrieved 28 October 2013. 
  21. ↑ Humphreys, Lyn (13 September 2013). "Cancer claims zoo's white tiger". Taranaki News Online. Retrieved 28 October 2013. 

External links

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