Nottinghamshire lion keeper Reece Oliver has hit out at critics after his licence to keep wild animals was extended for another two years. Broxtowe Borough Council agreed at a meeting on Tuesday (February 21) to extend Mr Oliver's licence to keep a dangerous wild animal, which is required under legislation passed in 1976.
The 31-year-old keeps four lions, a puma and tapirs - among other species - at his family's farm in Strelley Village. Broxtowe Borough Council's decision came despite protestors travelling to the meeting from as far as Sheffield, voicing concerns about Mr Oliver's separate plans for a new multi-million-pound animal sanctuary.
The Broxtowe Retreat would be situated on land near Station House in Trowell and would comprise 27 guest lodges, as well as a themed spa and restaurant, with the expectation that it would create more than 60 jobs. Speaking about concerns around the Broxtowe Retreat in particular, Reece Oliver told the Sunday Star: "They were protesting about the site but they weren't local, they were animal rights activists.
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"I hear their side of the story, I listen to them and I understand where they're coming from. We both have a passion for animals and the welfare of animals at heart and we both want the same outcome for them, but I think they've got it wrong.
"This site isn't going to be a general admission zoo where loads of people can walk around. Zoos do good things as well but we're not about that."
Mr Oliver first had his dangerous wild animals licence approved in May 2018, beginning with the housing of a puma. His conservation work has been featured on TV documentaries presented by Ross Kemp and Stacey Dooley and he has been dubbed 'Britain's Tiger King'.
Speaking about the extension of his licence, Mr Oliver said: "I'm pleased that the specialist's report to Broxtowe Borough Council supports my licence renewal. I think it was a foregone conclusion.
"Democracy played its part and there were no objections. Animals are great and I've always been passionate about them. I rescue animals."
He added: "I believe no animals should be kept in a cage but unfortunately, as human beings, we live in a world where lots of things stop that from happening, such as the increasing of the carbon footprint, cutting down habitats and trees, the melting of ice caps and the list goes on."
Speaking after meeting Mr Oliver in 2021, Stacey Dooley said: "I feel like it's cruel. You've got these beautiful cats that are used to living in the wild where they will roam free for hundreds of square kilometres. And they're in a cage in Nottinghamshire. How can they be totally fulfilled and stimulated?'
"He's been asked these questions a million times, and his argument is that the big cats were rescued. Because they've always lived in confinement, he doesn't believe that they would make it if they were returned to the wild. He thinks they would starve to death and wouldn't be able to react to their surroundings."
A 1,000 square-metre extension cost £30,000 more than the initial 480 square-metre enclosure built to house lion Rocky, lioness Rora and his Canadian Puma Rogue. The enclosure in Strelley is now believed to rival some of Britain's largest zoo lion enclosures.
Parents Rocky and Rora were rescued from captivity in Eastern Europe. Two female lion cubs have since been born, named Ruby and Rosie.
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