Craig Busch and Zion Wildlife Gardens
82Craig Busch - Lion Man?
Due to a squabble with his mother in December 2008, Craig Busch, the infamous 'Lion Man' was forced from his position and out of Zion Wildlife Gardens in New Zealand. There were suggestions of inappropriate behaviour, petty theft and failure to observe implemented safety procedures amongst others
His mother wanted him off the premises altogether for her own safety. She feared he may assault her. Mr Busch has twice been convicted of assaulting women. Once in 1991 and again in 2007. Regardless of the circumstances I have always viewed men who hit women with suspicion and distrust and especially with regard to the way they may treat animals. He has been described as physically intimidating and verbally abusive to staff.
There was a 60 Minutes TV progamme which showed the real 'Craig Busch'. This interviewed many people who had suffered at his hands and outlined the abuse he carried out. An inspection of Zion found that the cats were kept in 'overcrowded and insanitary conditions'.
Craig Busch is an actor. A very good actor. The person he portrays on the TV and for the public is that of a knowledgeable and caring conservationist. The truth is that he is a cruel, uncaring and deceptive bully.
Declawing
I have worked in zoos for more than forty years. During that time I have, by necessity rather than design, hand reared a number of Lions, Tigers, Leopards, Jaguars, and Pumas amongst other animals. I have never had occasion to declaw a single one of these and nor has the thought of doing so ever passed through my mind.
Declawing is as barbaric and inhumane as it is unnecessary! There can only be one instance where such a procedure should be considered and that is if the animal was self-mutilating. Even then it would be after all other options had been explored, and explored twice over. Euthanasia would be a kinder and more considerate option than declawing.
This cruel procedure is not simply a matter of trimming the animals toenails but is actually the surgical amputation (Onychectomy) of the end of the animals toes. It is much the same as cutting off the end of a human beings fingers and toes. It is not minor surgery! It permanently maims the animal. Such an action affects the big cats natural behaviours and instincts and in turn its long term physical and mental state. Such disablement affects the ability to groom itself, to climb and to defend. It messes with their minds. The removal of an essential part of the body leads to a change in the way nature intended the animal to move and unnatural locomotion is used to compensate which will eventually cause painful arthritis and back problems. Abscesses of the feet are common after surgery. Fifty percent of all cats which are declawed have some form of obvious complication and with twenty percent of these it would be long term.
Declawing is actually illegal in many countries or considered extremely inhumane. These include England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, Germany, Italy, Austria, Brazil, Switzerland, Norway, Israel, Malta, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Finland, Australia and New Zealand.
Sadly in some other countries the declawing of domestic cats has been almost a standard mutilation to protect furniture or similar.
Why would anyone consider such an awful and cruel procedure with a wild animal such as a lion or tiger which is never going to come any where near a piece of household furniture? The short and true answer is simply so that someone can enter an enclosure with such an animal and come to next to no harm. Providing the animals are hand reared and humanised then such a person can play Tarzan, showing off as to how clever, brave and 'in touch' with nature they are. Teaching an animal not to bite is very easy. Teaching a clawed animal not to scratch is more difficult and actually does need someone who understands animals.
Entering an enclosure with a Big Cat serves no useful purpose. It is not educational and it plays absolutely no part in research or conservation. Playing with Big Cats is pure circus and has no place in the modern zoological garden.
It is easy to do however. You simply take the cub from its mother shortly after it is born and rear it on the bottle. It becomes humanised and apart from size lions and tigers are not so very different in behaviours to your household tabby cat. It is the size and strength you have to be cautious of. If your domestic cat swats you with its paw in annoyance then a lick may be enough to soothe. A lion doing the same thing may mean you require some surgery. Biting, in spite of the teeth, is not so much of a problem. If trained correctly then the word 'No' should be enough. There really is nothing brave, clever or magical about such 'communion' with cats.
The so called 'Lion Man', Craig Busch of Zion Wildlife Gardens in New Zealand has achieved an almost cult status through regularly appearing on TV playing with declawed Big Cats. The only educational value is in showing how easy it is to dupe the public.
35 out of the 41 Big Cats at Zion Wildlife Gardens had been declawed.
Golden Tiger
White Tigers
The website for Zion Wildlife Gardens claims that they are the holders of Royal White Bengal Tigers a Bengal sub-species. This is absolute rubbish! There is no such thing as a 'Royal White' and as far as suggesting that it is a 'Bengal sub-species' it only goes on to compound the lie. The origin of the white tiger lies with a Bengal Tiger but man has messed around with the genetics for so long now that it is doubtful that any remain purely Bengal. The white tiger has, according to the website, been "extinct in the wild since 1958". This implies that there were dozens of white tigers running around in the wild before that time. No there were not. There was an occassional animal born in the wild and the possibility remains that one could be born there again. White Bengal Tigers are an aberration of nature, an infrequently occurring freak.
The website goes on to proudly claim that one of their white tigers carries the gene for the Golden Tabby Tiger whose marmalade colouring make it one of the "rarest in the world".
This is not clever. It is NOT conservation. It has no useful place in a modern zoo. Zoos are about the long term maintenance of wild animals, research, education and not to be party to the deliberate manufacture of freaks! Okay the freaks will bring in the gullible and uninformed but so too would the two headed turtle and six legged sheep that I remember from fairgrounds as a boy.
Zion Wildlife Gardens is trying to breed a stripeless white tiger. For as long as they pursue this ignorant and pointless prize, white tiger cubs will be born weak and deformed or the wrong colour and have to be euthanased. Euthanasia in a vets hands can be a kind and efficient procedure. Not so in the hands of Mr 'Do It Yourself' Craig Busch.
White Lions
White Lions
Unlike many the Zion Wildlife Gardens does not claim that their White Lions are a separate species or subspecies so they must recognise that this startling looking creature was, at least at one time, an infrequently occurring freak. Why then have they made the effort to obtain two of each sex with different bloodlines all carrying the same recessive gene? Once again it is to manufacture a cartoon animal for people to gawp at. There is no conservation value at all in keeping or breeding white lions.
Barbary Lion
Barbary Lions
There was actually a Barbary Lion. The last one was shot in the wild in the early 1900's and some existed in captivity in Morrocco for some years after that. There is presently no formal breeding programme for the Barbary Lion. It is not unusual for some zoos to advertise the fact that they have Barbary Lions without having supporting evidence.
Somewhere along the way I have read that one of the Barbary Lions in Zion is white!!!! Is this Gandor? If it is correct then it makes an already ridiculous situation worse.
|
Tiger: The Ultimate Guide
Price: $68.21
List Price: $39.95 |
|
Lions: A Portrait of the Animal World
Price: $8.83
List Price: $12.95 |
|
CARING FOR CATS by Senor Gatto ... a wise cat
Price: $16.89
|
Stolen Spaces
Any zoo which goes down the road of breeding unnaturally coloured animals, animals harbouring harmful genetic traits has divorced itself from conservation. They have become ANTI CONSERVATION. They are not just producing animals which are useless, but animals which can never be released into the wild. Nor can their cubs or their cubs cubs or their cubs cubs cubs, They are freaks!
Further to that the zoos which keep such animals are taking up captive spaces which could be used for genuine important conservation work. There is real need for places to keep various species in captive breeding programmes. Places like Zion Wildlife Gardens have the spaces but prefer to fill these with 'junk' animals.
Zion Wildlife Gardens claims to be involved in conservation and implementing strong breeding programmes. Sorry but no, it is not! Under the leadership of Craig Busch this collection has lost its direction so badly that it has fallen off the edge. It is laughable to call Craig Busch a 'Big Cat Expert' if the man fails to recognise these facts. He actually claims to be their 'Dad' on his website. What sort of Dad has his kids finger ends chopped off? What sort of Dad incapacitates his children for life? What sort of Dad produces unneeded children just so he can get the right coloured ones? Craig Busch has no more the "unique ability to understand and handle big cats" than Joe Bloggs on the corner of the street. I note too from his video that he has visited the Tiger Temple in Thailand. If he had a remotest understanding of big cats then we would have recognised what was wrong there and spoken out. But he didn't.
Zoo News Digest
Follow news and views of zoos at Zoo News Digest
|
14K Gold Mens Women Diamond Pendant Tiger Animal Cross
Current Bid: $646.00
|
|
12 SMALL BLUE PAW PRINT CHARMS PUPPY CAT TIGER BEAR #A
Current Bid: $3.95
|
|
Lovely Tiger Eye Gemstone Beads Choker Necklace 17"
Current Bid: $5.99
|
|
GOLDEN TIGERS EYE & 925 SILVER bracelet JEWELRY; 386
Current Bid: $23.86
|
PrintShare it! — Rate it: up down flag this hub
Comments
Zoo Keeper - Thank you. I say it as I see it. But only after a lot of research first.
Thanks again, Peter. Thank you for showing us the real show that takes place behind the velvet curtain. Craig Busch should be a in a circus himself...Playing the role of a clown should suit him just fine.
dohn121 - Thanks, you are right. Sadly a huge number of people have been taken in by the clown.
So you dont know or want to know craig busch he is a wonderful caring man and has done an amaxing job with his animals. And should be where he belongs at ZWG the one who started it all. if it was not for craig busch the would be no ZWG as his soo called mother has got no idea niether had the soo called management.....
And you dohn121 should be in a cirus with wild animals and see how long you last !!!!!!!!!! HA HA
What RUBBISH you talk..
Anyone that believes that crap is as thick and vile as you.
Those animals are BEAUTIFUL, and Craig Busch has a gift that most people would die for... You sound Jealous as hell.....
CRAIG BUSCH LOVES HIS CATS AND HAS WORKED DAM HARD....HIS MOTHER HAS RIPPED HIS LIFE APART AND HE DOESNT DESERVE THE TREATMENT HE HAS RECEIVED.
THOSE CATS ARE ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL AND YOU ARE A CRAIG BUSCH WANNABE
I've never read so much crap in my life.
Craig Busch is a gifted man who loves his Cats, wheras you are an idiot......
Those Cats are MAGNIFICENT and when Craig was with them, they were happy and contented.
Craig was charged with assault - agreed - BUT she was IN BED with another COUPLE, so not exactly innocent eh????
His Mother (if you can call her that), has ripped his life apart all because of Greed, Jealousy and Money.
He has 23,000+ supporters (and rising daily) that WILL get him back to HIS park to HIS cats....
He has been victimised, and has been the subject of Propeganda for far too long.............BACK OFF
what crap you talk
I disagree strongly with your comments about Craig Busch AND the Cats. They are Beautiful animals.
You are a rude man
Do you get paid for writing this rubbish?
Zoo Keeper / Peter / Dopey
You all talk crap - No prize for guessing who you lot are
Do you like victimizing a man who has worked long and hard, and has had his life ripped apart because of cruel jealous greedy deceitful people?
Leave Craig Busch and his beautiful cats alone
Peter Dickinson you are a nasty man
Leave Craig and HIS cats alone
What are u talking about???I have just read your hub on Craig Busch and also the one on the thai temple and i have a few points to raise.
Have you ever been to either ZWG or the Thai temple?? If not then how can you write about something that you havent seen for yourself?? Do you believe everything you read in the media? Has it been proven by the right authorities that Craig declawed his animals because i watch the program and there have been episodes where the lions/tigers claws have been on show, ie, the episode where Tigo had to have stitches in his paw, the claws were clearly visable then.
Another point is that some of the tigers in the Thai temple were rescued as cubs because poachers had shot their mothers...what were the monks supposed to do?? let them die? They saved their lives and surely that is a good thing.
We should all be doing all we can to stop these magnificent animals from becoming extinct and i'm sure even you will agree with me on that point!
If their lives are in so much danger in the wild then sanctuarys like ZWG are a great starting block for saving these animals. As long as they are treated right, are healthy and their enclosures are big enough i don't see the problem. It's better than being shot for your skin/teeth or to make some stupid chinese herbal medicine with.
Animals like these belong in the wild but with evil people around that want to take their lives then that is just not possible.
Zion Wildlife Park is doing better without the spineless Monkey..
You folks bully others on facebook. You made personal attacks on Tim Husbands what is not fair when he is doing a great job turning ZWG around
Did you know that it was the PRESENT Management in ZWG that sanctioned and were fully aware of the declawing??
NO?? Thought you didn't.
Have they admitted it??
NO?? Thought not
At least Craig did a full report and explained everything for all to see.
And your post PAUL is amusing to say the least, because ZWG are the biggest bullies of all...
It is Craigs park, Craigs cats - he belongs there.
Tim Tongs classes the cats as 'chattels'..... very nice!
Who painted Craigs windows black? Who glued his locks??
NOT the public - because they arnt allowed near HIS home in HIS park.
Who defied a Court Order?? NOT Craig
Every argument you put up - we can shoot down
Bring back Craig Busch
Craig is brilliant
I meant to say Phil - not Paul
Hello Peter (Dickinson)
I know you are a very well respected man in the world of Zoos. I will say this. I obtained the declawing report from MAF and made it public. I have the original copy here with me. Despite the outrageous claims being made concerning "present management" sanctioning the declawings this is in fact completely erroneous. If those who are quick enough to attack you concerning your opinions had bothered to read the report properly they would note on page four of the report the following "Vets confirmed that at some time in 2000 Craig Busch approached them to carry out the declawing" 21 Lions and 9 tigers were declawed between 2000 - May 2008 the last being a young Lion. Declawing under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 is considered a Restricted Surgical Procedure - ie it must be done for the benefit of the animal being declawed. In other words according to the report there had to be a medically justified rationale for the procedures to be done. The veterinarian MAF consulted who had big cat experience advised strongly against these procedures being allowed to continue citing gait issues and arthritic complaints as the animals aged. The declawings were already part of set policy and procedure for those who are quick to lay the blame and point the finger it should be directed at the person who set those policies in place in 2000 - not 2006 as would be claimed.
On the rest of the issues concerned. The open insults to Tim Husband are nothing short of the work of fanatics who have no concept nor idea on how a facility for large cats should be run. MAF have very comprehensive regulations and guide lines concerning the management of zoo facilities of which Zion Wildlife Gardens is considered one of them under the prescriptions in the Animal Welfare Act and related regulations. I have met and talked with Tim on a personal basis and I can say comprehensively that he is more than knowledgable in the Management and Husbandry of Captive felids.
Peter continue to write as you have always written. Those making the insulting comments have come from the NZ Lion Man Facebook Page they are prone to also make threats to people on the internet.
I am sorry you have had to put up with such disgusting and ridiculous ill-formed comments from people who simply follow like sheep and do not do their research. I have. I have visited ZWG for myself and I can tell you that things have changed there for the better I might add.
Well done Peter I commend you not condemn you for saying what has needed to be said.
I've done my research too, and I know who you are stormgerome. You are not quite as accurate as you think with your comments.
No threats have been made as far as I can see - there is a link for comments, and people have commented. Are only opinions that you approve of allowed on here?
If so, that reminds me of another Facebook page.... Hmmmm
If you didnt want comments putting on here, why did your friends stormgerome post the link onto the Lionman page???
Perhaps it was to stir....again??????
Well Barbara as if I am concerned by your comments?
Yes I have done my research very very thoroughly and unlike you I don't make unfounded accusations based on heresay
. No I don't know the person who posted that link and I am dismayed that they did.A conspiracy? I'm sorry your comments are invalid and seriously rather old hat. I don't agree with the methods done by Mr Busch if you have a problem with that too bad.
Use more tact and intelligence with your comments before you threaten people on the internet.
Okay the freaks will bring in the gullible and uninformed but so too would the two headed turtle and six legged sheep that I remember from fairgrounds as a boy.
For gullible and uninformed see comments above and on the Craig Busch facebook page! Good work mate hope he can never work with animals again!
well said storm gerome and Mr Conservation Officer - to the author of this blog post, very very well said, looks like you've done your research and you aren't relying on heresay.
Do you people believe everything you see on TV?
It's all propaganda to make money for that poor excuse for a human being.
great article. too many of his so called fanatics have been taken in by his tv persona. having met craig personally he is NOTHING like you see on tv, i wish these attacking current management at zion and attacking his family could see this and realise what his family have been through all these years.
his keeping of cats was simply a passion that got out of hand, he wasn't really in it for conservation. He just loved cats. But really he doesn't have any zooligical knowledge and htis fails him, he interfered too much, resulting in litters being rejected, and he removed cubs for his own selfish gains, not the tigers.
i had a read on that facebook page, and i notice nearly all the fans are from england. this doesnt surprise me. they do not know craig they know 'the lion man' from the show, and and they have been manipulated very carefully and fed misleading info. i almost feel sorry for them, they feel passioantely about something which is not true.
i ask you to come to enzed, see for yourself.
Mr Dickinson & All ' Anti Craig Brigade'
Your post was deliberately posted onto the Craig Busch fanpage with the explicit purpose of causing a reaction.
It was posted by a not so intelligent supporter of yours, who obviously forgot that there was the CHOICE of leaving a comment - which is open to EVERYONE.
The supporters of Craig Busch have been accused of bullying, threatening, and trouble making, and this I find quite astounding, as it was the very same 'mob' that posted your link onto Craig Busch supporters page in the first place.....???
However, if the 'Anti Craig' mob were so squeaky clean, why would they do this in the first place??
No Sir, it is NOT the supporters that are the bullies, it is the 'Anti Craig' mobsters that continually attack, argue, insult, bully, threaten and instigate the problems.
I have read your 'article' and find it rather insulting for someone who has apparently spent their life in a Zoo (and therefore I assume you are an animal lover) to call these BEAUTIFUL Animals 'mutants' and 'freaks'
Mr Craig Busch has a gift that quite honestly most people would die for, and if your opinion is otherwise then one has to wonder why?
I have done my research into the whole situation and yes there has been mistakes made, and those mistakes have been answered. The majority of the Craig Busch supporters have also done their research as they are not all as silly as some would like to think they are.
This man has worked all his life and those cats are his world. He has been subject to a very clever smear campaign, and has been viciously attacked and various propeganda stories have been spread that has severely damaged his character... In my world thats called 'Defamation of Character'...... Does he REALLY deserve that??
Give the guy a break, and give his supporters a break.
Stop accusing everyone of things they are not guilty of....I'm no bully, but I've been tarred and feathered as one... I personally have never come across such rude, aggressive bullies as the 'Anti Craig mob'
I do not agree with your article sir.
Dear stormgerome
Re your statement:-
"Use more tact and intelligence with your comments before you threaten people on the internet" ??? Hmmmm
I dont believe my comment above had any HINT of a threat, and it never would, because I am not a bully.
And I have far more sense and intelligence than you obviously gave me credit for.
I too am not concerned about your beliefs or opinions either.
My research was done thoroughly, and I have made my own mind up - just as you have.
Just because I have a difference of opinion doesnt make me or any other CB supporter a bad person.
Thank you. The comments so far have been interesting and useful. How many of the commenters from the Pro Busch camp have actually read the Hub is debatable. I would like to think that just one or two would do so and actually see the man for what he really is.
How anyone can support breeding to bring out recessive genes, mutilation of animals and displaying them like puppets on a stage is beyond me, how can any of the pro Busch camp condone this? Because he cuddles them in front of a camera? foolish.
How is any of this directed at conservation? what good would a declawed tiger be in the wild? Peter D`s comments are justified and anyone who disagrees is blinded by tiger hugging trash.
@ SyQueue
As we know white tigers are only produced through inbreeding. Declawing causes life time gait issues and arthritis complaints. 30 animals have to live with that for the rest of their lives. Very sad they were ever subjected to the procedures to begin with. Conservation it isn't it's mutilation x 10 separate amputations.
But obviously I must be misinformed even though I have the original Report from February of 2009 written by MAF Enforecement Directorate here in New Zealand. I stand against declawing, the breeding of white tigers for the sake of colouring and I cannot condone the actions taken concerning those practices.
Thanks Peter for your opinions.
Peter you indeed opened a can of slimy worms with this one :)
"Zookeeper" is right - if only everyone had the balls to say it like you do. Peter please continue to write as you have always written! You know I value your opinion regarding animals, zoos, breeding programs etc.
It is sad to read the comments of the tiger huggers - sad to realise that people can be so ignorant.
Whilst I can understand your outrage at the declawing I cannot condone your attitude on the White tigers. Granted inbreding these wonderful animals is wrong in every way, but mr busch was not the one to start the practice.
Just because as you say they are freaks of nature does not mean we can allow these beautiful animals to die out, these wonderful tigers are here and should be protected.
As for mr buschs methods maybe they are unconventional and not the norm this does not make it wrong. His passion and love of big cats brought us ZWG, without mr busch many of these beautiful creatures would be lost to the world.
I agree that some of the wording could be questioned (freaks, etc.) but I cannot agree that continuing to breed and display human-developed animal color morphs should be billed as conservation. What people are doing to these species is akin to selective breeding in domestic species to produce varying color morphs. No one is pushing for albino burmese pythons to be preserved and returned to the wild so why tigers? No doubt that albino and other morphs pop up in wild populations but the different appearance as compared to traits evolved over thousands of years of selection pressure often results in these animals having a very difficult time surviving to adulthood to reproduce. Anyone who argues that these selectively produced variants have biological or conservation value because of their attractiveness to humans does not understand science or the natural world very well.
If you think posting an ill informed opinion is "doing your research" then you might want to try again.
Freak - Definitions of:
a person or animal that is markedly unusual or deformed
wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn
the word "freak" is commonly used to refer to a person with something unusual about their appearance or behaviour
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freak
An abnormally formed organism, especially a person or animal regarded as a curiosity or monstrosity
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/freak
2.any abnormal animal, person, or plant; monstrosity
http://www.yourdictionary.com/freak
FREAK OF NATURE:
an animal or plant that develops physical features that are not normal for its type
http://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/brit
a person or animal that is born or grows with abnormal physical features.
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/freak%20of%
I could go on.
Wow ! I was so intreaged by this i had to read it 4 times !
I agree yet again with Peter, and again knowing keepers in NZ and having been there too Craig does seem to have a bad reputation out there too. I once brought his name up in conversation with staff at wellington zoo and it was a very short conversation to say the least....... I was on the understanding that Glenn Holland Now ran Zion..... a well respected man in the zoo world and for DOC, I wish him well as he seems to have a lot of mess to clean up !
I understand that Glen Holland and Tim Husband are there now and conditions have greatly improved. The collection is in a lovely location and deserves to succeed. With zoo professionals on board there will be no further breeding of mutations and those there will, I hope, live out their natural lives.
Staff remaining in the zoo from the Craig era have remarked how the atmosphere and working conditions have improved for the better.
Thanks for the article Peter. I had my doubts in the past over Craig Busch, however had not done enough research to make an informed opinion. Thanks to your article (and consequent further research) I know my doubts were justified. Its great that you have got the word out- If Pro Busch people think you are misinformed, let them go out and prove it- its impossible.
Those who say he has done an amazing job with animals- In what respect??? Those who say the animals he has bred are beautiful- Yes!!! But so are other naturally occuring morphs. What purpose do these white lions, tigers etc serve except aesthetic value for humans. Is that a justified reason for breeding them? Any conservation value???!!! Those who say Craig Busch loved the big cats- Would you impair or amputate a living creature if you loved it???!!!
Thanks again Peter.
Hmm i'm sort of torn between the two sides of the story. Yes, i do agree that white lions should not be inbred since i think it does make them deformed or something. HOWEVER! i went to zion wildlife gardens and about half of the accusations made by the media are not necessarily true. so could someone reply? thanks
This article is stupid and immature. whoever wrote this is just some jealous poser. END OF STORY.
Thank You Phoebe and Theliongirl - I note that you both commented from the same computer in France so perhaps you should have a bit of a discussion together. I think perhaps Phoebe read the article and Theliongirl did not. Don't believe ME but just go through the points I have made one by one and research them yourself. Write your own Hub....shoot me down with facts. If you can.
I have noted that the ill informed tend to comment in gangs. EG, Elly, Elaine, Paul, Helen, Steve, Debs, Kat and collets31uk all emailed me from the same computer in Stoke on Trent in England. None of them had an 'invidual' opinion.
lol i don't come from france i'm in the UK =) my sister loves watching the lion man because of the cute tigers and stuff. plus you're right about her not reading the article, she just wants to watch the next few episodes of it and doesn't like the idea of people talking about him like that.
Well said Peter, bet half the people sticking up for him never even read the article you wrote. It annoys me so much seeing zoos breeding white tigers and lions and then claiming they're doing a good thing.
And I think the fact that they're beautiful is hardly a reason to de-claw them and inbreed them into oblivion is it?
Thanka Phoebe - never trust an IP address 100% I say. Thank you too Another keeper.
I have just watched an episode of The Lion Man (in the UK)and then found your site, i have never been to NZ.
Wow i am gobsmacked! i did not realise he was doing all that to them lovely animals omg how awful. I could not imagine why anyone would want to declaw an animal that is just wrong and cruel and if he has done that then i think he should be banned from ever working with animals again! i have two house pet cats (slightly different i know what your thinking) but i just could not do anything to hurt them
What I am trying to understand here Peter is why are you being attacked? Is it so necessary that people have to come over and call you names and make fools of themselves. It solves nothing at all but only makes people look ridiculous.
Tim Husband is now running ZWG. MAF have just done an inspection and it is all good news. Hopefully ZWG will be releasing it. Just waiting to see what the word is there. Glen Holland has gone to Africa in a new position there.
Whatever people's feelings on the entire situation we cannot change it. The courts are the deciding factor on this matter not the public.
i don't belive a word of this craig is a good man and there is 24,000 fans that will tell you this we are behind craig 110%
Hitler also had followers... Did that make him good?
Very well done article, and shows the sad truth into how people can be fooled easilly by a man playing with a white tiger. Craig is an absoloute disgrace and antithesis to the world of zoos and conservation.
Ok... So just read the investigation document from MAF re the de-clawing of several of the big cats..
people seem to have focused purely on whether they support craig or not.. When you read it, it is clear that Craig was a part of the de-calwing decision process. However I feel from reading the report that he has also been mis-guided by the MAF who were aware of the procedures taking place and did not raise objections at the time and also the zion vet who seemed to be focused on the zoo making money.
So it raises the question, has Craig been intentionally cruel or has he just been naieve and taken in by so called experts that have then turned on him when the story has come out..
I have always been a fan of craig, and I think deep down that he really does care about the cats, but I think that you can't ignore that report.. Maybe this is just a product of the fact that he has no official training behind him and he has taken advice from people who have sought to make a fast buck off the back of craig..
It's a tough one... but I think the courts are best to decide.. Ultimately it comes down to the welfare of the animals....
Well done Peter,your comments are well founded. Do any of your critics realise that most, if not all the cats at ZWG are hybrids, or inbreds, calling them 'beautiful' is very true, but very narrow minded. None of these cats could EVER go back to the wild because of their disastrous genes. Why didn't Craig focus on breeding pure subspecies, and ACTUALLY helping cats, not creating new freak cats? Craig did absolutely NOTHING for cat conservation. TV personas are not all bad however, look at Steve Irwin, he played to the camera, yes, but was good at it and helped a LOT of wild animals, Craig should take a leaf out of his book.
My apologies for the late entry into this fray, but in discovering it I feel I have to add my rare 2 cents as it were.
I am horrified at how the primary concern by the article that should have been forefront in peoples mind here is easily obscured by the "human element" (it did start wonderfully by the way). Bickering about Craig Busch (not entirely in the article, but apprently comments exacerbated by it - not obviously unintentionally), his human relationships, his original intentions/goals, his methods etc. seems so terribly moot. The animals are what matter, the animals are what worry us all (I hope). The article is slightly slanted from the start - attacking Craig, finger poiting, labelling (the animals involved) - calling names (let us face it, calling the animals freaks of nature is just awful and helps nobody and is in fact inaccurate from a viable alternate standpoint). Just plain nasty for nasty/point making sake. As a pedant and serial non-believer in anything one reads without references, please put links in and don't force me to search the world for them as I may never get them and discount your point of view for it if my google-fu is not strong (which would be sad - and I really do want to understand).
My personal primary concern is for the animals at Zion, and as such the whole Craig Busch is he good or evil thing currently seems pointless (he hasn't been there for some while at this point in time). With regard to declawing, could someone link me the document for any declawing requests at Zion - as I am not disbelieving, I just need to see it in cold hard black and white before I dare believe anyone would do it - horrific and hateful act (some Americans apparently deem appropriate for domestic cats still - wtf!!!I love my cat too much).
With regard to branding the animals as freaks (I know you try to explain this language Peter, I kind of get it is defensible) is slightly demeaning to their current standing - they are all wonderful and unique creatures. To think that these creatures are non-viable is horrendous - that would be like suggesting "please euthanise all dogs as they are non-viable and useless creatures that nature did not intend!" - becuase let's face it, we as humans have afflicted quite a few atrocities on our beloved canines. Not a fan of that viewpoint but that could be just me as these cats may yet still create part of a platform to re-launch a species lost to the world, and if not in it's purest state, one close to it!
I admire where you are coming from, and I really do not like the idea of de-clawing (still making me cringe). I would prefer to see a less person centric attack at practices than appears to have been formed here. Your intentions seem to be pure but seem sullied slightly by a specific affront to this chap. I can understand maybe that this is the point of the article - to attack Craig Busch - well, then so be it, make it a pure hate rant - but to mix with concerns of the big cats seems too open and from reading some of the comments, could be constrewn (in)correctly as simply baiting one side of a separate ongoing row.
I will be paying more attention from now, props to sticking your neck out and much love :)
Err wtf was I on about, this *was* an article specifically relating Craig to Zion, my Apologies. Personal opinion on mister Busch is exactly that, but a few of my points stand about the slightly derogatory terms relating to the viability of the animals and the lack of references ;) *peace* *retreats under rock*
hmmmm... interesting reading. I can't say that the guys show has ever had me gripped.
I'll start with the colour morphs... now whilst i cant say I'm against the captive breeding of colour morphs (hell, i keep enough myself) I could never condone the breeding of genetic mutations in the name of conservation. the fact that he claims to be doing just that is -frankly- rediculous.
if a colour mutation popped up in his zoo then i can understand him using it as a form of pulling in patrons but not as a breeding animal. so yes thea b 'freaks' (as it was so cruedly put) but they are striking and i can see that the public will love them and so would have a positive effect on the park but i highly doubt that a reintroduced lion producing white cubs is going to benifit wild populations any.
on the subject of hybrids... these i am very anti. I dont have an issue with people keeping hybrids as pets if they are NOT bred from and are informed as to exactly what they are.
lions and tigers however are not pets in any sense of the word and hybridising species is nothing more than pointless. if he wants to play with genetics and produce colour morphs he should be breeding hamsters or mice as a side line. neither of these are ever going to be reintroduced into wild stock as they contain so many recessive colour genes already so he can hardly do any more damage to them...
declawing is deplorable and if The Lion Man did indeed get his animals declawed out of ignorance as has been suggested then it really is proof positive that he isn't as knowledgable as some are trying to claim him to be. i dont doubt that he has a love of animals and that he cares for them but that doesn't make him an expert does it? I know people that love wolves... doesn't mean that they are going to try and turn one into a pet...
I'm not against the keeping of exotics either in zoos or in private hands but i do belive that if some one is keeping such large and lethal animals that there should be a little more caution used and that it should be done ethically and responsibly. showing off how 'tame' your tiger is cannot really be considered any different than owning a breed on covered by the dangerous dogs act... maybe he doesn't see it like this but all i can think is that he's trying to make himself look 'cool'. Bless him.
maybe I'm doing him a huge injustice, after all i have not met him in person but i am an animal keeper and do not like seeing the exotic keeping hobby marred by prats that think playing with DWA's is a great way to show off. its just encoraging the idea that DWA's make cute and cuddly pets.
sigh.
alot of the people who are arguing this article clearly have no experience with animals and therefore couldn't possibly be expected to understand why this guy is a bit of an idiot with a fluffy TV program that makes him appear as cute and cuddly as his colour morph tigers...
Cheers Dave, thanks for the link. Makes for unpleasant/interesting reading. Who on earth did the obscuring of personal details on that? Sneaky forgetful non-edit in there ;-)
Simon the blacking out of names was done by MAF because of privacy issues relating to named individuals. The Privacy Act 1993 automatically applies to any document released under the Official Information Act which the declawing report was. I was the one who made it public. The original copy I received was already like that. Hope the clarifies your query.
Heya stromgerome, I wasn't suggesting the person that published it had done the editing, it simply made me chuckle at the effort that had gone into removing all the names/etc and leaving one glaring omission in the middle :-) (more of a rhetorical question - but I guess tone is not easy to convey over the internet). Definitely not having a pop at anyone on that count, on the contrary props for publishing it :-)
Cheers!
Hey Simon no I didn't think for a moment you were having a go. No worries at all. Yes when I first saw the report and all the blacked out names it clicked to me that MAF were protecting people and fair enough. Glad you were able to view the document. I obtained it because unless like you I see concrete proof then I won't take it as absolute fact. It has to be substantiated. The declawings were just as TVNZ had stated. And cheers back! Have a good one Simon.
i think zion wildlife gardens should be opened again WITH craig inside thankyou...but i think craig should be given a second chance because nobody would like it if their most precious pets were taken away from them would they? no i though not. it doesn't mean craig is an exceptionally bad person, he just needs to back his ideas up and pay attention to whats really happening here. what do you think?
Thank you so much Peter! Very well said! Hopefully some people may begin to understand the truth behind these matters! So many times to do people say to us that they love watching the Lionman and all his work, and sadly no matter how many times you tell them how false it is, they refuse to listen.
I see the reasoning behind wanting to have so much hands on with the animals, but greater still is the want to actually conserve and rehabilitate the true species! After all, these animals are NOT pets!
As for the colour mutations, again it is another matter that is very difficult situation for many people to understand. We have a white-hybrid tiger, and because of that, she will never be allowed to breed. When you are dealing with a species when only hundreds survive, why start mixing it up? At no point should any zoo keeper want to have to play God to stop a healthy animal from breeding, but it's those original few who wanted to play God for designer purposes, that we must continue. The only way this will probably be put to a stop is with the exticntion of human. Bring it on!
At the end of the day, I dont see why animals would show him the love if he didnt show them kindness. The animals would be fearful of Craig if he didnt treat them with kindness and love. You can see in the program that they are comfortable with him and that they have a bond.
I've still to read up on all of what has happened. It was only yesterday that I looked up on the internet to see what happened to Dalu (after watching lion man on tv i was curious), and initally I thought he was sacked over that. It seems there is more to it now with craig being accused of petty theft and poor management of the wildlife park...I am shocked to say the least!
I'm not sure whether this means he is cruel to animals though and to say the white lions are freaks, is not true...they are adorable and craig certainly cant be to blame for them being inbred. There is no reason to destroy what in nature has already happened a long time ago.
Sorry GC but your understanding and judgement is so clouded that you miss the point completely.
I'm not missing the point, I completely see what you are saying in your article with all you points, however I dont like your description of calling the animals freaks hence my comment previously.
I just personally feel it would be sad to let these beautiful animals become extinct even if they are freaks of nature! Its just my opinion, all people have different one's, it doesnt mean only one can be right!
If Craig Busch has authorised the declawing of these animals and kept them in unsanitary conditions then I do not believe he should be permitted to care for these animals again. I am actually disgusted that considering the information in this article, if true, his program is still showing in the UK! Its an outrage!
You must understand that all this news regarding craig busch has not been publised in the uk, it has been minor news if anything. It is no wonder he many uk fans, it seems over your side of the world you are more informed of what is going on whereas over here, all we have is lion man really. So yes there is a definate cloud!
Thank you GC- Sorry but the animals are freaks. They have been created by man. It really is on the way down the road towards the blue spotted tiger or something similar. To dress the man made creations up in a conservation garb is an educational crime. Now it is not the animals fault and I would be against their being euthansed because of what man had done to them. I think they should be allowed to live out their natural lives in comfort as far as is possible dictated by the effects of their mutilation.
It is very sad that the Craig Busch fans are unable to grasp the facts even when presented with them and the option to research further. He is a hypnotic character and it cannot be missed that most of his fans are of a 'type'. Your comments are appreciated. Thanks again.
Hi Peter,
On taking initial offence at the article you posted here and on subsequent research of my own, I can only thank you and others on here for opening my eyes to some of the facts involved in this subject matter. I was a great fan of the "Lion Man" series - nay loved it, and this sadly is what you have to contend with, but our intellect and will to learn the truth is not completely dominated here in the UK - some of us are still alive and free thinking. It is really and truly disturbing reading for someone that wishes to actually be edified and is open to research and bothering to look at things rather than believing in a glamour! And let's face it, that is all it is, a glamour - a spell. In the UK we have had little exposure to events unfurling in New Zealand and the subsequent news maelstrom - (I tend not to go with info from such frenzies anyway and try and sift through the aftermath). There is much that may never be truly know as truth and fact, but it is hard to ignore the declawings - that made me feel a little sick. The subsequent tactics and politics employed by the parties involved has saddened me. Out of the aftermath, it does seem that ZWG are currently under a much more sane running with Tim Husband, it seems that he keeps a much tighter and honest ship for these animals. No more hands on, no more reckless breeding for recessive trait purposes. New ideas and schemes of where to take the park without damaging the animals futures. He has had a lot to contend with and claw back (no pun intended). It looks like the park has a legitimate future in conservation if current efforts are successful.
Just to note, you have made a difference with that one person from the UK that maybe didn't believe you in the first place ;-) We aren't *that* dumb (I hope).
Thanks again for the eye opener.
Cheers,
Simon.
Simon - Thank you so much. I have been subjected to a lot of flak and nonsense since I wrote the article but felt that if I could get just one person to look at the facts then it would have been all worthwhile. You have. I am pleased. Thanks again.
i dnt belive for one min that GRAIG BUSH would hurt is cats he loves them.u and his mother should leave him alone and stop thinking about lining ur own pockets with money.
Hayley's remarks leave me gobsmacked. Her ideas are as nonsensical as her literacy.
She "doesn't believe for one minute that GRAIG (sic) BUSH (sic) would hurt his cats" [forgive me for correcting her spelling, but I have allowed through her seeming inability to spell her hero's name]. Oh well, that's all hunky dory then. She doesn't believe it could be the case, so clearly it cannot be true. Is this called evidence-based reasoning?
"leave him alone and stop thinking about lining your own pockets with money" Er, Hayley dear, how exactly is Peter "lining his own pockets with money" by raising these concerns about Craig Busch's behaviour?
I have no way of knowing whether Busch is guilty of ill-treating his animals, but there is sufficient legitimate concern to make it a proper subject for discussion.
And, if I may address the issue of referring to white lions/ tigers as "freaks" or "mutants" or whatever -
In the wild most animals conform (logically enough) to normal colour patterns. Within the gene pool there are certain unusual colour forms, normally expressed through recessive genes. From time to time these recessive genes will combine in order to produce the unusual colour form. Normally these forms are less well adapted (perhaps through loss of camouflage) and by natural selection will tend to die out, or be severely reduced in number - that's why they are rare.
They are, of course, eye-catching and in captivity there is sometimes a commercial incentive to encourage them. Which can only be achieved by inbreeding from a small gene pool, leading to health problems for the animals.
So, dear Hayley and others, is that ethical? Is that kind to the animals? Is that the action of a true animal-lover?
This is my opinion of the article (no offence to anyone of course)i think that maybe some of these facts that are being posted maybe are true in some ways and not true in others. What i'm trying to say is that maybe some of us do not know what is going on, plus many people have a different opinion on the matter and that maybe both points of view are true in some ways. for example: Some people say that craig isn't very good at looking after the animals and inbreeding them makes them 'a freak', but others may think that craig just wants to look after his cats and that everyone should just leave him alone.
as craig so openly said it was partly to do with family problems, me and my sister think everyone should not change their mind so quickly about craig as he IS NOT a bad and horrible person.
Phoebe - I wrote the hub so it really is my opinion and not others. I consider declawing cruel. I consider going into enclosures with large cats unnecessary. I consider the breeding of white or marmalade or stripeless tigers or white lions to be of no conservation value whatsoever. I consider that TV programmes or tours dressing up these beautiful freaks and going in with them as education is a lie. Sadly it is a lie believed by 26,000 plus people. Oh and Craig of course....only I feel that he really knows the truth.
i think it is ridiculous that he says that he breeds white tigers for conservation, They have no conservation value. If he told the truth that he bred because they are different it would be better than trying to pretend its for conservation.
As for the declawing issue, its totally inhumane and it should be banned, how would you like to get your fingers chopped off from the knuckle?
Hi Peter,
I am not sure if you are still following some of the background on what is happening over at Zion Wildlife Gardens, but I was hoping possibly to shine a ray of hope on the plight of the cats there that the current staff and management are looking to improve with regard to the de-clawing.
makes for interesting reading, and you wouldn't believe the "opposition" back-lash on that!
I will say no more and hope I haven't drawn the screaming hoardes to your door once again (apologies if it does).
Cheers,
Simon.
Thanks Simon,
Yes I knew a little about the 'reversal' operation but had not seen this story till now.
peter, i agree with u 100% craig is nothing more than a woman beating,ignorant,arrogant ***hole.peter could u tell me what happened to karen and hams also please tell me what happened to darlu hope you can help keep up the good work maybe one day joe public will understand just what your saying many thanks for information some of which is new to me so thanks again ;;;;; Darin
i rest my case.
if craig is not allowed run zion parks i will never watch the programm again here in the uk or anywhere again, he made the show and the park he is the one who cares more about the loins tigers and every other animals in the park u r going to give the huge set back if he leaves for good, he made the as he loves the cats .god bless u craig
Hi Colin,
I am not sure what you are trying to say here? Peter has no say in if Craig has anything to do with Zion Wildlife Gardens or the Lion Man show, that is between the New Zealand Courts, MAF and the TV company.
This hub is Peters opinion based on his own research and substantial personal experience in the field that he is passionate about and as such has drawn him to discuss it here. I for one thank him for sharing his opinions and experiences. It is an eye opener if you actually bother to look further behind what is being discussed here and stop to consider another persons opinion and not blindly believe what you are pedalled on TV.
Now this is me personally, I very much doubt the Lion Man series will ever record another season, and if it does - I would consider it extremely unlikely that it would follow the same format, be in Zion Wildlife Gardens or possibly even in New Zealand. The antics that made the show so popular are quite frankly no longer allowed in New Zealand, MAF quite rightly no longer allow for hands on handling of large felids.
I believe it is your perogative not to watch the TV series anymore, but as far as I can tell - this does neither the cats nor Peter any harm, if anything you may be harming the revenue of your favourite TV celebrity.
Cheers,
Simon.
First things first, I am looking to become a zoo keeper, and so I know how they work and all about breeding programmes, and coming from a scientific background I am fully aware of the whole mutant and freak debate that people seem to be unable to grasp. they are clearly beautiful but they have mutated genes which are not normal-hence mutant.
I have never been to NZ, however as soon as I watched an episode of the Lion Man I was shocked and confused as to how someone acting in the way that Craig Busch did could say that he was in it for the conservation of cats. I do not doubt that he loved "his" cats....by the way Phoebe they are not his pets and it is absolutely ridiculous to refer to them as such, all people who work with animals form some sort of attachment to them, however it is knowing what is best for the animals, not the carer.
I am not completely opposed to keeping white tigers or lions, aslong as it is done in a way that is in line with conservation-they should not be bred with each other but if they are to be used then they should be bred with "normal" animals. but I agree that it is far better to save the precious spaces for more deserving species.
I completely understand why the cats were declawed, afterall it would have been a disgrace if a cameraman had been mauled as the cats loved craig but no one else....still people do not understand that ofcourse it was covered up and any close up shots of paws would have shown the claws, and craig was shown to be loving and friendly with the cats and vice versa in order to show he cares.
good luck with your work peter!!
Thank you Bee
sorry i didn't mean to say pets bee since i was thinking about my own at the time i meant to say 'animals' as i did on my latest comment.
Zoo Keeper says:
2 months ago
Peter, if only everyone had the balls to say it like you do.
I couldn't agree more with your feelings on this "person" and his treatment of the animals, also the genetic monstrosities he breeds for entertainment.