The Lion Man

[Lucia]

I absolutely love this programme and have just found out over the last couple of days that The Lion Man himself, Craig Busch, is having some desperate personal problems which have resulted in him being 'sacked' from his own big cat sanctuary by no less a person than his mother.

I don't know all of the ins and outs of it, or who's right or wrong - bur if you want to find out more/wish to help him, please follow the link to this on-line petition set up by his supporters:-

http://www.gopetition.co.uk/petitions/reinstate-lionman-craig-busch.html

[spicey]

Oh my goodness!!! I LOVE this programme, I only got Sky installed last week but I think I have watched every single one since then and I also watch it when I'm down at my parents house. That's very sad. Am going to go and put my name on the petition! Thanks Chris! xx

EDIT - Done!

[DizzyJenni]

I too love this programme!! Poor chappy, i will go and look at the link now :(

If he's been sacked...all the poor big cats he has such a close relationship to...they'll be pining for him :(

[spicey]

Zion absolutely adores that man! :(

[jeni]

oh my goodness, i've not seen this programme before but i wiki'd him.
I wonder what happened for it to go so wrong :( ?
I want to see the series..

[Lucia]

I don't know the full story - I don't think anyone does - from what I've gathered through 'talking' online to other people, it all seems to have started when Craig (stupidly and uncharacteristically) assaulted his then partner last November after finding her in bed with two other men.

I know, I know - but he's so lovely on the programme, I can't help taking his side - anyway, he went to court, paid his fine and it seems that at that time he found himself deeply in debt.

He doesn't seem to have a lot of business-sense so his mother bailed him out - but - in doing so, she seems to have got herself a controlling interest at the Zion Park - she wanted to open it God knows how many times a week to make more money - Craig refused to do that because he didn't want the big cats made upset and anxious - so she sacked him! :(

I freely admit that I'm biased because I like him so much and you couldn't watch the programme without realising how much he loves his animals and how much they love him in return. His case for wrongful dismissal comes up on May 28th so it's vital that the petition gets as many sigs as possible!

If you've not seen him, Jenni - the programme is on Sky 3 on Friday nights - four episodes - two of which are repeated on Saturday morning.

[jeni]

ohh goodness me :( what a mess...
hmmm two other men.. ?! That's terrible..
I have to watch this programme..

[DizzyJenni]

I hate to think how much the big cats are suffering without him :(

No matter what he has done, he should not be banned from his work !

[Banana]

He is on facebook!

[spicey]

He is on facebook!
Yes I saw that too! I wonder if we should add him?!

[Banana]

I already have! :hooray:

[spicey]

:cheerleader:

[Wendy]

I'm only repeating whats been reported on other internet sites but I read Karen had an affair with Hermes, one of their female friends. Craig came home and caught them together and threw them out and it all turned into a bit of a bun-fight! Holy moley! You couldn't even make it up!

Anyway, there was an assault charge and a much publicized court case and Sky wouldn't commission another series. No money coming in from the tele people, things went a bit downhill. His mother bailed him out, she then sacked him, they both sued each other and ultimately its the animals that suffer in all this mess.

Not sure whats happened in the last few months but I think the court case happened last May.

Not good :(

[Mochali]

Sorry, I cant bear watching him with those lions :(

[Lucia]

The way I understand it is that the Court case regarding whether or not he was unfairly dismissed is happening this May which is why the person who organised the petition is trying to get as many signatures as possible before May 28th - all of his troubles only kicked off last November.

Thanks to everyone who's signed today! :D

[mary h]

Love this program... petition signed!!

[Casiat]

Sorry, I cant bear watching him with those lions :(

I agree..........

I prefer to see natural behaviour in the wild rather than false environments with humans interferring, like that idiot Sean Ellis and the wolves..........

[Casiat]

http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/White-Tiger-Mauls-Zookeeper-to-Death-In-New-Zealand-Whangareis-Zion-Wildlife-Gardens/Article/200905415289667?lpos=World_News_Article_Related_Co ntent_Region_1&lid=ARTICLE_15289667_White_Tiger_Mauls_Zookeeper_t o_Death_In_New_Zealand_Whangareis_Zion_Wildlife_Ga rdens


I do feel for the chaps family and those poor visitors...........

[Lucia]

Me too - from what I saw of him on the TV series, he seemed like a lovely person - maybe if Craig had still been in charge at Zion, this dreadful tragedy might not have happened?

Incidentally, I agree with a point you made earlier in the thread that wild animals should ideally be retained in their natural habitat - but in the case of these animals, to leave them where they're in danger of being poached to the brink of extinction doesn't seem a viable option.

[Casiat]

- maybe if Craig had still been in charge at Zion, this dreadful tragedy might not have happened?

but in the case of these animals, to leave them where they're in danger of being poached to the brink of extinction doesn't seem a viable option.

You may have a point about the fact he wasn't there.........there must be tension and upheaval around the park which the animals would no doubt pick up on.

I'm all for conservation and protection of endangered species...........in the right context!! I would just rather it a more natural process!

[Lucia]

It's quite hard to disentangle anything approaching the truth from all of the claims and counter-claims, but I think what I'm extrapolating from all of the sensationalist nonsense is that Craig might adore his animals and be sincere in his attempts to save them from extinction, but he's no businessman and got into some serious debt - at which point his mother bailed him out and became the majority shareholder and, effectively, his boss.

They seem to have had a difference of opinion about how the Wildlife Gardens was run from the get-go - Patricia Busch put an end to the planned expansion of the animals' habitats and appears to have wanted to run Zion on a much more commercial basis than Craig did - she also seems to have wanted to cut corners and staff numbers and it appears that it was her refusal to allow the habitat extensions and to allow Craig to 'train' staff to his standards which led to his arbitrary dismissal.

It also appears that it was Craig himself who involved the New Zealand MAF after his dismissal because he was concerned about the way the animals were being kept - and it's claimed all of the 'accidents' have occurred since he has been absent from Zion - the latest and worst one the awful tragedy of Dalu's death, which many of Craig's supporters are claiming wouldn't have happened if he'd still been in charge.

I am deeply upset at the death of Dalu - but - please don't think me hard-hearted, why on earth did the tiger, Abu, have to be shot just for being and acting like a tiger? Don't they have tranquilliser guns at Zion? Or does no-one know how to use them anymore?

Dear me - I'm getting a bit 'ranty' here - I'd better stop - these are only my opinions - everyone else's views are equally valid! :)

[Banana]

I think the reason they destroy a wild animal after it has killed a human is because it may then become learned behaviour.

Its all a sorry state of affairs.

I joined Craig's facebook thing and noticed he sent a message to everyone a couple of days ago thanking everyone for their support.. if its him of course!

[Lucia]

I'm sure you're right, Anna - but I felt that since he was an endangered species tiger, they could have at least considered transferring him to a good zoo where he would have had minimal human contact. Ah well - it's too late now! :(

If it is really Craig on Facebook, I wonder if he knows about the petition - it has well over 9000 signatures now!

[Banana]

Oh yes - there are loads going on the internet


A Statement from Craig Busch 28 05 2009 regards incident yesterday
Share
Yesterday at 07:17
This is an absolutely tragic event for all involved. I am deeply upset at the news of this attack

It is a terrible blow for me as I knew the keeper well. My thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues.

I raised Abu from a young age, To see him put down is also a tragedy for me.

I am available to assist the police and other authorities in any way as they deal with the shocking events of yesterday, I am still unsure of the exact circumstances involved and cannot comment any further.

The outstanding matters surrounding my ongoing involvement at the park are irrelevant in the context of what has happened.

[DizzyJenni]

I've only just read about Abu attacking and killing the other keeper...

Its all falling apart.


He said his protocol with the tigers was that no one was to go inside the enclosure without him.

"Even at times I didn't feel like going in there, I'd have to lock them up to go and clean out," Mr Busch said.

He said his protocol was to lock the tigers in another enclosure while cleaning out their enclosure.


So sad, more than likely it wouldn't have happened if he was still there.

[Mochali]

They are wild animals at the end of the day, so trying to domesticate them seems ludicrous to me?