An animal park which closed down two years ago is to be resurrected as a zoo housing exotic and endangered species.
Following the closure of Fife Animal Park it emerged animals had been severely neglected.
However, the defunct wildlife centre near Collessie is being purchased by a family from Essex who are due to move on site next week and hope to open Fife Zoo in spring next year.
They intend to revitalise the attraction, with residents including zebras, monkeys, meerkats and antelopes, and bring more tourists to the region.
It is also proposed the zoo, including a large tropical house for primates, birds and reptiles, will be an educational facility and contribute to education andwildlife conservation.
Briony Taylor, 28, and partner Michael Knight, 25, are leading theventure with Michael’s parents Reginald and Ann as co-directors.
The couple hold BSc degrees in international wildlife biology from theUniversity of South Wales, have studied animals in South Africa and Indonesia and volunteered at various animal parks.
Briony said: “We have been working on the project for two and a half years and when this opportunity came up we decided it was the right place for us.”
She declined at this stage to reveal more of the animals which will be brought in but hinted tigers may join the collection at a later date.
She said: “There will be a lot ofexciting species that maybe people haven’t seen or don’t see very often and some animals people might not have even heard of.”
Buildings are to be renovated at the park which she described as “tired”.
She said: “We are not drastically changing the landscape but we want to enhance the park. It needs to be redeveloped to modern standards.
“There is a lot to be done but we want to open by Easter 2016 or, if not, the summer.”
The family are being advised by zoo consultant Matt Harley and are seeking membership of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums and the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria.
Briony said: “We want to ensure our animals get the best care possible and that people enjoy the park and we inspire them to work with animals.”
Following the closure of Fife Animal Park, co-owner Peter Lockhart, ofNewton of Falkland, admitted at Dundee Sheriff Court to failing to protect the welfare of animals and failing to provide a suitable, clean and ventilated environment for them.
He also admitted to failing to provide a suitable diet or adequate treatment for ailments or protecting them from injury, suffering or disease.
He was fined £2,000 and banned from keeping animals for five years.Life imitating art imitating lifeFife Zoo will be a family affair, run by Briony Taylor, partner Michael Knight and Michael’s parentsReginald and Ann.
They are upping sticks from their home in Romford, Essex, and moving lock, stock and barrel to the animal park.
The plans resonate with Hollywood blockbuster comedy drama We Bought a Zoo.
But in life imitating art imitating life, the Matt Damon movie is in itself based on a true life story.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=OuHFEhpxFPM%3Frel%3D0
Benjamin Mee, a freelance writer, bought a dilapidated zoo on the edge of Dartmoor as a retirement home for his mother in 2006. Their purchase saved 200 animals.
But it was a struggle to make ends meets, and the film, also starring Scarlett Johansson, below, came in the nick of time.
In fact it was about to go bust when the stars rolled out the red carpet for the film premiere in 2011.
However, it didn’t have a Hollywood ending Benjamin, whose wife Katherine died of a brain tumour as he battled to re-open the zoo, saw the zoo go into liquidation in 2009 and he had to borrow money to keep it going.
The 2011 comedy-drama was loosely based on Benjamin’s 2008 memoir with the action transferred from Devon to California.