The UK’s London Zoo is being investigated over allegations late-night guests are throwing beer at animals and attempting to climb into animal enclosures.
Westminster city council launched an investigation Thursday into the parties, known as “Zoo Lates” which are held Friday evenings, according to The Guardian.
Earlier in July, the publication detailed allegations of alcohol-related incidents that included beer being thrown at a tiger and a man stripping off his clothes before attempting to enter the penguin pool.
The Guardian reported a separate incident of a woman entering a lion enclosure, but the London Zoo only confirmed the incidents involving the tiger and penguin exhibit.
The London Zoo is one of the oldest in the world and has been hosting events on Friday evenings to raise money to support its conservation work.
The events, which bring in about £800,000 a year, offer guests acoustic music performances, “silent discos” and talks from animal keepers. They also serve alcohol, according to the zoo’s website.
More than 33,000 people have signed a petition to stop “Zoo Lates” which claims the event has caused “fear and distress ” to the animals.
A spokesperson for the London Zoo told the BBC: “The wellbeing of our animals is always our first priority and we would like to reassure those people that have taken the time to sign the petition, that we would not continue to run any event or activity which compromised this, in any way.”
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