Cat Survival Trust boss charged with animal welfare offences

The Cat Survival Trust Centre housed cats such as snow leopards, mountain lions and servals (pictured)

The director of a big cat charity is to stand trial on animal welfare charges.

Hertfordshire Police confirmed that the director of the Cat Survival Trust in Hertfordshire, Terrence Moore, was charged on 28 counts.

The 77-year-old, of Codicote Road, Welwyn Garden City, pleaded not guilty to all the offences in March 2023 and will stand trial in April.

The trust, founded in 1976, housed cats such as snow leopards, mountain lions and servals at its site in Codicote.

The director of the Cat Survival Trust, Terrence Moore, pleaded not guilty to animal welfare offences

Mr Moore has been charged with eight counts relating to the "unnecessary suffering of endangered animals" which were in his care at the "big cat sanctuary".

He was also charged with four offences of failing to meet the animals' needs, and 16 counts of using endangered animals for commercial gain without a licence.

Mr Moore is currently on bail and is due to stand trial at St Albans Crown Court on 22 April.

The Cat Survival Trust is currently being investigated by the Charity Commission over alleged "continuous failure" to file its accounts, and has not responded to a request for comment on that matter.