Black Isle Wildlife Park instructed to close down

The park's collection includes pets such as rabbits, but also zebras and meerkats

The operators of a wildlife park in the Highlands have been issued with instructions to shut down after an investigation into animal welfare.

Highland Council said it has issued a zoo closure direction to the management of the Black Isle Wildlife Park at Drumsmittal in North Kessock.

Councillors agreed to the move following an inspection and a report by a Scottish government-appointed vet.

The operators of the park have 28 days to appeal the instruction.

Highland Council said it would work with the park to re-home its animals, which include pets such as rabbits but also exotic species such as meerkats and zebras.

In a statement, it said: "Findings of the special inspection and the specialist vet's report indicated that the zoo was found to be seriously below the standards required for operators to be in possession of a zoo licence, and was non-compliant with a large number of standard conditions of zoo practice."