A SOUTH Lakeland zoo has been saved from closure but its boss has been issued with a warning about his future conduct following the escape of wildlife from the attraction.

The warning follows a behind-closed-doors meeting of Barrow Borough Council's Licensing Regulatory Committee where David Gill's suitability to hold a licence for his South Lakes Safari Zoo at Dalton-in-Furness was brought into question.

The review was triggered after director Mr Gill and the formerly named trading company, South Lakes Wild Animal Park Ltd, were both convicted in November by Kendal magistrates for allowing several Sacred Ibis birds to escape.

After a trial, Mr Gill was found guilty of three counts of allowing an animal to escape between July and October in 2013, and was fined £2,870.

The attraction was also charged with the same offences, and Mr Gill pleaded guilty on its behalf. It was fined a further £5,370.

A spokesperson for the council said the committee was "resolved" to issue the warning with the intention to permit the authority to reserve the right to refer to this hearing and the matters, which were under consideration, should they be asked to consider Mr Gill’s suitability in the future.

The reasons for the decision, they said, was the committee believe the offences were inadequate to justify closing the zoo,

"Mr Gill had appreciated the seriousness of the escapes and had assured the committee that procedures were now in place to prevent any future escape occurring," added the spokesperson.

At the beginning of the meeting Mr Gill, who was granted a licence in 1994, submitted a five page written submission which was accepted by councillors.

In the submission, Mr Gill disputed a number of points outlined in the council's report.

He claimed Barrow Borough Council and the Wildlife Crime Unit "withheld information" regarding the birds escaping for four months - between July and October 30.

He said there were "four months of secrecy in order to secure a conviction rather than resolve the actual risk".

If he had been aware he said, he would have acted immediately as he did on October 30 when he used a shotgun to kill all 13 birds.

"I was left with the threat of prison if I did not resolve the matter immediately," he wrote.

Referring to sightings at Roanhead and Aldingham, Mr Gill said he was unaware of the escapes as the birds were all accounted for every day at 8.30am and 5pm.

Despite leaving the zoo sometime between 1pm and 3pm on three occasions, Mr Gill claimed the birds never escaped permanently.

Mr Gill also claimed he was subjected to intimidation when he attended Ulverston Police Station on October 30.

At the time he claimed he was unaware of the escapes although he had seen a video on Facebook of the birds.

He wrote: "I was intimidated by the way the accusations were made, that I was accused of allowing this with full awareness."

The zoo boss also criticised the council's environmental health department, making reference to a "conspiracy" against the zoo and a "malicious inspection report" in January 2014 which led to him coming before the committee.

Members were required to make a decision from three possible options, either to issue a zoo closure direction, issue a warning as to future conduct or to take no further action.

But a decision was made not to close the attraction which is due an expansion in June.