A BORTH zoo has closed “for the next few weeks” after a court appearance in which they agreed to temporarily rehouse their big cats.

Borth Wild Animal Kingdom appeared in court in Aberystwyth on Monday.

In January the zoo was directed, by Ceredigion council, to close the enclosures of its most dangerous, Category 1 animals, due to inadequate firearms arrangements.

In 2017 a report into the zoo was commissioned by the council, following the escape and shooting of one lynx and the death of a second lynx due to a “handling error”.

In March 2020, the council said it had “lost confidence” in the zoo after three antelopes escaped.

On Monday, the zoo appeared before Aberystwyth magistrates to appeal the closure of the Category 1 enclosures.

After the appeal, zoo owners Tracy and Dean Tweedy (pictured) released a statement to say that they have reached a “compromise” with the council. They said: “They could have closed us down completely, but we managed to come to a compromise. Unfortunately we will have to say goodbye to our cats for a short time.

Our lions, lynx and serval will all have to be moved to other facilities in the next few weeks.”

The zoo added: “The facilities that the cats will be going to are yet to be finalised, but in the past three years we have made some really good connections in the zoo community and we hope the cats will be taken on loan.”

The zoo owners said they hope “to impress the council” during their next annual inspection, due to take place in February 2021, and to welcome the big cats back to Borth.

The zoo was told in January that it could no longer house Category 1 animals as it did not meet the conditions of its licence, which stipulates that the zoo must have three competent and licensed firearms team members living on site.

The zoo said five members of staff, who live on site, are currently undergoing the necessary training.

Ceredigion County Council said: “On 7 September 2020, Borth Wild Animal Zoo Ltd appeared at Aberystwyth Magistrates’ court to respond to an appeal against Ceredigion County Council’s decision to issue Closure Directions in relation to the Zoo for failing to comply with a number of Directions.

“During the hearing, Borth Wild Animal Kingdom Ltd offered to surrender the Category 1 (carnivores) part of their zoo licence.

“In response to this proposal Ceredigion County Council agreed to an alteration to the licence to close only this section of the zoo, namely the enclosures holding lions, lynx and serval animals.

"The closure of this section of the Zoo means that no Category 1 animals may now be held in the collection.

“The Zoo is now required to submit a rehoming and future care plan to the local authority within 21 days and the Judge ordered that the plan be implemented under the supervision of the Authority.

“The Judge indicated in open court that he had read the bundle of evidence supplied by the local authority and whilst not predetermining any issues, it was evident to him that the local authority had been very patient in a situation where there were clearly concerns about public safety.

"He was mindful of the repeated attempts made by the local authority to work with the zoo and asserted that it was now up to the zoo to look to the future.”