BORTH zoo has warned that it has only a week’s worth of money left - and then it will have to start looking at rehoming or even putting down animals.

Owners Dean and Tracy Tweedy issued a plea for help this week, saying that “financially things are looking bleak here at Borth Wild Animal Kingdom”.

The zoo - which was closed for several weeks earlier this year by the council after it was accused of breaching its licensing conditions - shut again due to the coronavirus lockdown.

Tracy Tweedy said: “We started this year with lots of hope for the future. Our fantastic new managers had started and plans were being drawn for amazing improvements to the zoo.

“Unfortunately Covid-19 has thrown a huge spanner in the works. We were already only scraping by financially after the long, quiet, winter season. Easter is one of our busiest periods of the year and to miss out on this income is a real blow.

“We managed to get a business relief grant which has helped and the furlough scheme has meant that nobody has lost their jobs, but that grant has nearly run out.

“We were joyed to see that Westminster announced a special fund to meet the financial problems that zoos in particular are facing at the moment, but unfortunately, this is only for English zoos.

“We were very dismayed to hear that Welsh zoos are not being given the same support.

“We are not eligible for any of the government-backed loan schemes. With debts mounting and no date as to when we can once again open, we are very concerned about how we can continue to provide the high standard of care our animals need.

“It would be tragic if Mid Wales lost its only zoo. We work with so many local organisations on animal education and wildlife conservation that we see ourselves as a vital asset for the community.”

Tracy said many of the animals would be very hard to rehome.

“We also run as a sanctuary for animals that have been rescued from the exotic pet trade. For many of these animals we are a last resort. They came here because destruction was their only alternative. They would be very difficult to re-home as the licence requirements to look after these animals and provide the proper care, can be very involved and expensive,” she said.

“Wales at the moment is still in lockdown, and we are not asking to open to the public yet. We want to keep our staff and visitors safe. We are trying to stay positive and have put in social distancing measures ready to receive visitors when we do finally open our doors again.

“Despite everything we are as determined as ever to not give up!”

They appealed for help to meet the £3,000 a week costs to run the zoo. The appeal is at https://www.gofundme.com/f/borth-wild-animal-kingdom-support

Shadow Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Andrew RT Davies MS, said: “This is a dire situation that the zoo finds itself in, but I’m afraid that zoos right across Wales are in the same precarious situation and desperately need support due to the profound impact of Covid-19.

“It’s outrageous that whilst the UK Government has taken action and given £14 million to support zoos in England the Welsh Government has still not followed suit.

“The Welsh Conservatives have launched a petition, calling for the Welsh Government to set up a Covid-19 Welsh Zoos Support Fund to provide vital funding to zoos, which has gained support from people right across Wales.

“It is high time that the Welsh Labour Government listened to the plight of our zoos and introduce the much-needed fund.”