THE owner of a family of ostriches in the Western Isles yesterday pleaded for someone to give them a new home. Strict government rules would force Tim Green - who runs the Animal Visitor Centre on North Uist - to get a zoo licence to keep the three young ostriches, known on the island as the Osbourne Family.
Transporting zoo inspectors to the island, as required by law, would cost Mr Green thousands of pounds a year. ''Because we charge visitors to see the animals, we have been told that we need a zoo licence. Western Isles Council has tried to help us but there's no way round it. The ostriches have to go,'' said Mr Green, who hopes someone local will now take on the two females and one male.
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