London Zoo bosses will go ahead with an after-hours event tonight despite a public outcry over claims that drunken visitors were distressing the animals.
It was reported this week that some visitors had “taunted” and even hurt animals at Zoo Lates, which are held on Fridays over the summer.
More than 250 people have signed an online petition in protest and animal rights campaigners today called the decision to press ahead “astoundingly ill-advised”.
Angela Davey, who organised the petition, told supporters the campaign is to “see these inhumane events closed down once and for all”.
But a zoo spokeswoman said that only three visitors had been ejected over the past five years. More than 6,000 people attend each event and the scheme earns the zoo £800,000 a year. A London Zoo spokeswoman said: “Animal welfare is of paramount importance, and at this week’s Zoo Lates we will continue putting them first — as always.
“We absolutely would not continue with any events or activities that compromised our animals’ wellbeing.”
