By Jenny Suo
Northland's controversial wildlife park has reopened, with lionman Craig Busch leading the pride.
The newly named Kingdom of Zion has had a troubled past - including the death of a zoo keeper, liquidation, and a bitter ownership dispute.
Today was a new beginning for the 36 big cats at the Kingdom of Zion as the public gathered for the park’s official opening, and the new owners are determined to restore the park back to its former glory.
The opening is a step towards restoring the park’s reputation but, speaking on RadioLive, Craig Busch admits there is still a long way to go.
“I think it’s an absolute mess and disgrace,” says Mr Busch. “Things have been put together in an unsafe way – very dangerous to be handled by the staff that used to be here.”
The cats are now receiving medical care.
“There is things to do with teeth that should have been sorted years ago and their teeth have gone rotten, and they’ve got big infections that can kill them. Another has got an eye problem.”
For Mr Busch today’s opening marks the end of his three year exile form the park.
He was dismissed in late 2008 after his mother Patricia took over, and they fought bitterly over the ownership.
A year later there was more bad publicity for Zion when horrified visitors watched as zoo keeper Dalu McCube was mauled to death by a white tiger.
Now Mr Busch says he is determined to move on from the controversy.
And today is the first step.
3 News
source: newshub archive
