Councillors will decide tomorrow whether to grant a troubled north wildlife park a new licence.
The Black Isle Wildlife and Country Park is applying for a public entertainment licence to operate as a farm park or petting zoo.
The attraction, at Drumsmittal near North Kessock, lost its zoo licence in June after a series of inspections which exposed failings in animal welfare.
Visitors had complained of dead animals, inadequate feeding standards and cages in poor condition.
Subsequent inspections found the place was “seriously below the standards required for operators to be in possession of a zoo licence.”
In July its owners, Eric and Maureen Maxwell, employed a loophole which allowed them to operate without a licence by scrapping admission fees and relying on donations.
More exotic species were rehomed while creatures including red deer were among more than 260 species allowed to remain at the park.
The public entertainment licence would mean they can continue to operate as a “farm park” for such domestic species.
However, an objection to the application was lodged by Highland Council’s environmental health team in August.
Outstanding issues which they said had to be rectified included the rehoming of animals subject to zoo controls, welfare of animals remaining on display and general maintenance of enclosures and public areas.
In September, the facility was further inspected by environmental heath staff and a Scottish Government-appointed vet.
Councillors were due to decide on the licence earlier this month but the application was pulled for talks between environmental health officers and the park’s owners.
While objections were also lodged by three members of the public five letters of support were also received.
Members of the local authority’s licensing committee will consider the licence application during a meeting tomorrow.
