Dog owner to pay over zoo death

Vicunas were almost hunted to extinction in the 1970s

A man whose dogs killed a rare animal at Belfast Zoo in January has been ordered to pay £3,500 compensation.

Emma, an adult vicuna (a member of the camel family), was killed and Boris II, a six-month-old calf, badly injured after being attacked by four dogs.

The dogs were uncontrolled and unaccompanied at the time.

John Hennessy, of Ben Madigan Heights, was found guilty on Tuesday of 11 charges arising from the incident. Two of the dogs are to be destroyed.

Belfast Magistrates Court ordered him to pay fines and compensation totalling £3,500 to Belfast City Council, which runs the zoo, as well as issuing destruction orders against two of the animals.

Speaking on behalf of the council's Dog Warden Service, which brought the prosecution, a spokesman said: "None of the dogs were covered by the Dangerous Dogs legislation but they were clearly dangerous.

"This prosecution again underlines our determination to deal effectively with aggressive behaviour and actions by dogs, irrespective of breed, in order to protect the people of Belfast."

Zoo manager Mark Challis said dog owners must understand the importance of controlling their pets, "particularly those who live in close proximity to the zoo".

Vicunas, which are originally from the Andes of South America, were almost made extinct from being hunted in the 1970s for their valuable fleeces.

The smallest member of the camel family, they are still considered an endangered species.