ZSL director Ralph Armond fears that World Cup "fan fest" go-ahead will pose serious threat to welfare of animals

Published: 26 February 2010
by JAMIE WELHAM

THE director general of London Zoo has raised serious concerns over the effect a proposed “fan zone” in Regent’s Park will have on animals if it gets the green light this summer.

Speaking publically for the first time, Ralph Armond said the event – daily screenings of World Cup matches to a crowd of 20,000 fans – will damage visitor numbers and that “exceptional” noise levels would pose a serious threat to animal welfare.

He quotes three separate academic studies to galvanise his challenge, warning that the predicted jump in volume could cause seizures, weight loss and may even lead to an outbreak of cannibalism among mice.

In a doomsday scenario, Mr Armond also predicted drunken football fans attempting to scale the walls of the zoo and play a game of “how close can we get to the lions?”

The zoo is home to 16,000 animals, some of which may have to be moved off-site if the GLA forge ahead with plans to erect the “fan zone” complete with giant screen and hospitality tents opposite the zoo in Gloucester Green. 

A licensing application has been lodged with Camden Council and a ruling will be made on March 11.

Experts predict noise levels will exceed the 100 decibel mark, equivalent to Concorde on take-off, when the crowd cheers a goal.

Mr Armond wrote: “We believe that 24 days of exceptional noise (foghorns, 20,000 spectators, peak ‘roars’ when a goal is scored, etc) adjacent to the zoo could create a serious animal welfare issue.

“The scale of this event is way beyond anything we have experienced before and its location could not be closer to the zoo (literally metres away from the penguins, macaws, anteaters, lions, squirrel monkeys and Blackburn Bird Pavilion.

“Known effects of noise in animals includes audiogenic seizures and increases in serum cholesterol levels, intestinal inflammation, and increased adrenal weights due to overproduction of adrenal hormones. 

“Stress responses induced by loud or sharp noises have lead to cannibalism as well as a generally decreased reproductive performance in mice.

“We have, in the past, experienced people under the influence of alcohol, trying to climb over the fence into the zoo.

“This is a potential extra temptation at night when we have such large numbers of people right next to the zoo [playing] “how close can we get to the lions?”

Under the application there is no specific details from the GLA about how they will limit disturbance. According to data collected by the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA).  The park registers average noise levels of between 0db (silence) and 50db (equivalent to the hum of a quiet library).

Last week Dame Judi Dench raised the plight of the open air theatre, of which she is a trustee, directly with the Mayor of London and culture minister Ben Bradshaw.