Sanctuary under scrutiny

By Melissa Meehan
HEALESVILLE Sanctuary could face a government inquiry after allegations of animal mistreatment.
The RSPCA has called on the Victor-ian Government to establish a full and independent inquiry into the allegations.
However, several current and former staff that the Mail contacted yesterday (Monday) praised the sanctuary and how it treated animals.
But the Victorian president of the RSPCA Hugh Wirth said it was important that the serious accusations in the Melbourne media over the weekend were taken seriously.
“These allegations need a serious response. The zoos (Zoos Victoria) are denying matters, but that’s not a credible response to the issue,” Dr Wirth said.
Dr Wirth said he had written a letter to Minister for Environment and Climate Change Gavin Jennings demanding that the Government get to the bottom of the allegations.
“If a public inquiry establishes that cruelty to animals has taken place, and if they are able to determine who was to blame, prosecution of those responsible could take place,” Dr Wirth said.
Dr Wirth also attacked the sanctuary’s practice of using animals as “PR tools” rather than educational exhibits.
“No animals should be exhibited so individuals can make money or so that ordinary humans can gawk at them.
“Animals should only be exhibited for educational reasons,” Dr Wirth said.
A former staff member mirrored Dr Wirth’s statement about zoos using animals as PR tools and said that during her time at the sanctuary the welfare of animals was often secondary to entertaining the public.
“But in reality, zoos all around the world make entertainment their primary focus,” he said.
Former Healesville Sanctuary wildlife training supervisor Richard Naisbitt said he had worked at the park for 15 years and that it had a good record.
“Unfortunate incidents happen at every zoo in the world but, in terms of Healesville, I never experienced any form of neglect,” Mr Naisbitt said.
The Mail contacted many staff members and volunteer guides at the sanctuary and while no one was willing to comment on the record, all had varying opinions about how animals were cared for.
Zoos Victoria rejected claims that Healesville Sanctuary had failed in its protection of wildlife.
Director of Healesville Sanctuary John Gibbons said that many of the incidents raised in the Melbourne media were not accurate and that comments made by current and former staff members had been sensationalised to make a story.