The chief executive of Orana Wildlife Park has resigned.
Sources told 1News Lynn Anderson called an all-staff meeting late yesterday afternoon and revealed she was leaving Orana after 28 years in the top job.
In a statement confirming the news this afternoon, she said “the time was right” for her to focus on her work-life balance.
The Christchurch zoo has been embattled on several fronts for months, following 1News reporting on its culture and treatment of animals.
The stories – aired in July – included comments from 20 current and former zoo workers, some of whom said they were overworked and exhausted with too many animals in their care.
It will leave the top job empty for the first time in nearly three decades, Thomas Mead reports. (Source: 1News)
Others said they had been ignored or were left to work in unsafe conditions, which made them fear for their lives at work. They also revealed details of animal deaths and injuries that had never emerged publicly before.
The allegations prompted the Zoo and Aquarium Association – or ZAA – to begin an investigation into culture and animal welfare at the Park, the results of which are yet to be published.
The influential zoo body, which handles welfare accreditation, said just last month that it was “finalising the details of the review”.
Its probe included a survey which asked all Orana staff to share their views on their leaders, including Anderson.
Read more: Buried trauma: zookeepers expose animal deaths at Orana Wildlife Park
Staff were asked whether their leaders valued people equally and whether they cared for the physical and mental wellbeing of staff.
The latest WorkSafe improvement notice to the Park was issued in August, citing “ineffective risk management” for some of its tasks, including worker safety while lions were fed. The park has until November 29 to comply with the notice.
Previous WorkSafe notices have since been resolved, after the Park brought in a new fleet of trucks to replace vehicles that zookeepers had complained were dangerous.
Orana pushed back against many of the claims raised by its staff in the 1News investigation, saying they were inaccurate, out of context or missing vital pieces of information.
The Ministry for Primary Industries carried out a “rapid assessment” at the zoo in July, which found no significant animal welfare concerns — other than an underweight tiger.
However, it has significantly increased its audits due to the concerns raised.
An external organisation brought in by the Orana board – Culture by Design – also continues to work with the Park, with the aim of improving its culture.
In a statement, Orana board co-chairperson Ken Hughey thanked Anderson for all she had “achieved and contributed” to the Park.
“[We] wish her the very best for the future,” he said.
Anderson’s last day as chief executive will be in December.