A leading veterinary surgeon and long-time DEFRA Zoo Inspector says the Botanic Gardens Aviary in Churchtown “ should be protected and lauded” and that “the lives of the birds etc will not be improved by being moved.”
Peter W Scott Msc.BVSc.FRCVS spoke out in support of the views held by the Save The Aviary campaign group.
The group responded to a statement issued by Sefton Council following the Aviary public meeting held on Wednesday evening at St Cuthbert’s Church.
In it, the council said it is backed by PETA and other animal rights groups in the view that the Aviary “is simply no longer in the best interests of the animals who are kept there”.
A Save The Aviary spokesperson said: “In a desperate attempt to counter the growing local, regional and national support against the closure of Botanic Garden’s rescue Aviary in Southport, Sefton has released a position statement claiming they have the support of animal welfare experts from across the world.
“These claims, just like the council’s original reason for closure, are nothing more than generic views about captivity.
“Without assessing the Aviary itself, this is opinion, not evidence. A recent FOI response confirmed that no welfare assessment, no expert report, no consultation, and no evidence was held by Sefton at the time the closure decision was taken.
“Sefton is now backfilling justification after the fact, not presenting evidence that informed the original decision.
“A public asset can’t be closed on ideological grounds. Decisions must follow process, evidence, and lawful governance.”
The Save Our Aviary campaign has been very generously afforded the time and expertise of veterinary surgeon Peter W Scott Msc.BVSc.FRCVS, a DEFRA Zoo Inspector since 1984.
Giving specific regard to the size of the aviaries, the animals, breeds living therein and the facilities, he was able to make the following assessment. “The Southport birds are kept well, fed appropriately and get veterinary attention when required – paid for by public contributions.
“They are kept in aviaries, NOT cages.
“They have room to fly short distances and to escape from people when they wish.
“As ex-pet birds their normal behaviour pattern may not be normal for the species. They may display different levels of behaviour related to people – from toleration of their presence, regarding them as a source of feeding or preening to full on imprinting where they revel in interactions as the galah (roseate cockatoo) does. Its behaviour is clearly not normal for the species but is normal for the individual.
“This is where the Southport aviaries are so successful, they cater for the individual bird. Rather than the naive view that birds must be free and flying, a more nuanced approach should be taken.
“Free and flying enables birds to encounter aggression, predation, injury, starvation. We obviously have a responsibility to the imprinted bird which will likely show distress, distraction behaviour such as plucking if it does not receive the human interaction it craves.
“ I appreciate that the council wishes that they hadn’t been taken from the wild. In reality they are already here, and in all likelihood captively bred here.
“The Southport Botanic Gardens is providing a good service for the community in rescuing these birds and animals, providing a free resource for visitors, providing the birds with space and human interaction to enrich their welfare. The staff member and the volunteers interact with birds and the public to benefit all parties.
“I understand that there is a view that it is somehow morally wrong to exhibit these birds to the public for enjoyment or even education. In a modern society one could say that taking them from the wild is wrong, but they are here and can’t go home. As stated, they are all commonly bred in the UK and in all likelihood originated here.
“I subscribe to the view that they should be used for education, educating the public that it’s wrong to buy them and trap them in small cages, while at the same time giving them care and a life worth living.
“This resource should be protected and lauded, not sacrificed to political whim or even worse unreasoning dogma. The lives of the birds etc will not be improved by being moved.”
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