Lion Man cops cat op criticism

19th October 2009

Two experts are criticising Lion Man Craig Busch for declawing 29 big cats at Zion Wildlife Gardens.

The declawing procedure - known as onychectomy - was carried out by veterinarians under Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry supervision.

It took place before Mr Busch's mother, Zion director Patricia Busch, last year sacked her son, with whom she is now involved in a legal battle over the administration of the wildlife park.

A Maf report says Mr Busch declawed the animals for the protection of themselves and humans interacting with them.

But the park's current operator, Tim Husband, has described the cats' declawed front paws as "mutilations" carried out so the animals could "perform" with their handlers".

"Cats which have suffered this procedure will in later years have problems with their hips and backs," he said.

Zoologist Peter Dickinson, who produces the ZooNews Digest and is now working in Thailand, said declawing was "barbaric and inhumane".

"Euthanasia would probably be a kinder and more considerate option than declawing. It permanently maims the animal, affecting the big cat's natural behaviour and instincts and its long-term mental and physical state," he said.

The Animal Welfare Act 1999 defines the declawing of large felids as a restricted surgical procedure and the veterinarian doing it must satisfy himself or herself that the procedure
is in the best interests of the animals.

A Maf investigation earlier this year found Maf vets had been present when veterinarians in private practice had declawed Zion cats at Kerikeri in 2000 and later at Whangarei.

A 12-page report on the Maf investigation concludes by saying the apparent overt or tacit acceptance of the declawing procedure by the Maf supervising vets made prosecution of the private vets "problematic".

A notice was issued restricting future declawing of Zion cats.

The report, produced in February, recommended the Veterinary Association include restrictions on large felid declawing on its website.

The association's animal welfare co-ordinator, Virginia Williams, said on Friday that recommendation had not yet been carried out, but she expected it to happen soon.

Mr Busch could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

A public response via New Zealand Lionman in June this year stated that declawing of big cats was a contentious issue and Mr Busch had sought expert advice before declawing big cats in the presence of Maf vets.

The cats had  never shown any negative effects from the operation which was standard practice in the United States, the NZ Lionman said.