The owner of the Aqua Zoo in Leeuwarden, Zoo Parc in Overloon and Wissel in Epe is no longer able to pay the bills and staff were not paid last month. The zoos employ several dozen people.

The zoos will remain open and staff will continue to look after the animals for the next four to six weeks while the official receiver tries to find a solution. The zoos have been hit by a downturn in visitor numbers and have major debts to the banks.

‘The former management, the bank and myself agree that the animals interests and those of the workers are paramount,’ the official receiver is quoted as saying by broadcaster Nos.