TV presenters voice concern following deaths of Borth lynxes

TV presenters Iolo Williams and Ben Fogle have expressed concern following the death of two lynx belonging to Borth Wild Animal Kingdom.

A marksman shot and killed one lynx, Lillith, after it escaped from the zoo and another, Nilly, died of asphyxiation in a catchpole while being moved to a different enclosure.

Mr Williams said: “It’s just disastrous. The decision to shoot the first lynx, rather than tranquillise was a mistake. Darting should have at least been attempted," he told the BBC.

“Both events raise major concerns about the way this zoo is being run, and the Wild Animal Kingdom needs to be shut down urgently, for the sake of these poor animals.”

Mr Fogle, the UN patron of the wilderness, called for “reflection” on the licensing of small zoos.

“Two lynx have died in the course of a week and, I think, there are failings across the board," he told the BBC.

“I think we need to look very closely at how we look after our creatures and there have been reports across the United Kingdom of private collections, open collections, that don’t seem to be taking that responsibility seriously or fairly."

The Lynx UK Trust, which is trying to reintroduce the animals in England, Scotland and Wales, has launched a petition signed by 7,500 people calling for the zoo to be closed.

The zoo is already closed on a voluntary basis.

Ceredigion council has launched an investigation.