A LIONESS and smaller zoo animals such as porcupines, marmosets and wallabies could be moving to the Yorkshire Dales Falconry Centre near Giggleswick.
The animals currently live at Southport Zoo but could be heading for North Craven as zoo owners Doug and Carole Petrie are believed to have bought the falconry centre, next to the A65.
The animals have to leave Southport after the land on which the zoo stands was sold.
But not all of Southport's animals are North Craven bound.
Two chimps are going to a private sanctuary near Swansea and a number of big cats including lynx, plus larger monkeys will be rehomed on Armathwaite Hall Estate in Cumbria. The lioness is believed to be fairly old and to have been hand reared by the Petries.
The zoo will need a licence from Craven District Council's environmental health department. The falconry centre already holds a licence and it is believed the new owners will keep the birds as an attraction alongside the animals.
Planning permission will be needed for any new structures, but to far nothing has been submitted to Craven planners. However, the zoo owners have been in talks with the planning department.
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