Isle of Wight Zoo shuts down Facebook and Tripadvisor pages after hate campaign against Chris Packham

The zoo has come under attack by those campaigning against wildlife presenter Chris Packham, a regular visitor to the Island.

Speaking today (Tuesday) on Good Morning Britain, Chris said staff at the zoo — run by his long-term girlfriend Charlotte Corney — are worried the animals will be targeted.

Wildlife broadcaster @ChrisGPackham has received suspicious packages and death threats, after backing a ban on farmers indiscriminately killing 'pest' birds.

He says 'take aim at me', but calls for people to stop targeting charities and organisations he's affiliated with. pic.twitter.com/9Br6hTpBTC

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) April 30, 2019

In a statement, the zoo said: "Regrettably we have been forced to temporarily close our Facebook page due to an influx of negative and damaging activity.

"We apologise to all our supporters and followers who are looking for updates from us and sincerely hope to resume normal operations as soon as things have settled down.

"The Isle of Wight Zoo is proud to be the home of The Wildheart Trust, an independent charity dedicated to the rescue and rehabilitation of a variety of animals."

The charity has also suspended its TripAdvisor review page until further notice.

Chris said: "Please take aim at me but leave all of the charities and all of the other businesses that I work with out of it."

The Countryfile star revealed he has been harassed with people hanging dead birds from his gate and sending him human excrement in the post.

He has also been the target of death threats, which have been reported to the police.

The incidents follow Mr Packham's support for a campaign against the killing of birds such as crows, woodpigeons and jays.

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