South Lakes Safari Zoo
| South Lakes Safari Zoo | |
|---|---|
| 54°10′00″N 3°10′07″W / 54.1666°N 3.1686°W | |
| Date opened | 28 May 1994 |
| Location | Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, England |
| Land area | 51-acre (21 ha) |
| No. of animals | 1,000+ (pre expansion) |
| No. of species | 150+ (pre expansion) |
| Memberships | EAZA |
| Website | southlakessafarizoo |
South Lakes Safari Zoo (formerly South Lakes Wild Animal Park) was a 51-acre (21 ha) zoo established in 1994 by David Gill, and located in Cumbria, England. Its name refers to its proximity to the Lake District, though it lies entirely within the Borough of Barrow-in-Furness on the outskirts of Dalton.
After an initial rapid growth, the zoo became one of Cumbria's most successful tourist attractions. However, under Gill's ownership the zoo had a number of controversies, emerging both from his personal life and his management of the zoo. Significant concerns over animal welfare and the death of an employee eventually led to Gill losing his license to operate the zoo in 2017.
The zoo closed permanently in December 2024 with animals expected to be re-homed in the new year.