There is no doubt there is something about big cats that stirs something in many of us.
They are noble, dangerous and, in this part of the world, one of the first must-sees of any zoo or wildlife park visit.
That should have made Whangarei's Zion Wildlife Gardens, which features many lions and tigers and a polarising frontman in Craig Busch, one of the country's most high-profile, most profitable and most frequented of tourist attractions.
It is, however, just one of those three things - high profile. And the reason for that is the series of disasters that it has been the centre of.
The latest this week, the coroner's hearing into the death of Clifford (Dalu) MnCube, killed by one of the animals he was caring for, has revealed even more reasons for public wariness. It was claimed during the hearing that Busch had been threatening MnCube over his immigration status; that Busch and his mother, who had a messy falling out, asked staff not to report injuries inflicted by the cats; and that the Ministry of Agriculture had been scared to shut down the park for fears the backlash from the Lion Man's support base would damage our tourism reputation. It must be stressed that the claims about the Busch duo are unproven. Coroner Brandt Shortland, who has indicated he will make adverse comments, at least in his draft findings, may decide they are outside his brief when determining the reasons for MnCube's death, and recommendations he makes to prevent something similar happening.
