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Home / Northern Advocate

Lawyer doubts Lion Man pledge

Imran Ali
Northern Advocate·
20 Aug, 2011 12:00 AM2 mins to read

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The lawyer for Zion Wildlife Garden operator Patricia Busch has questioned her son's commitment to buying back the park.

Evgeny Orlov has criticised "Lion Man" Craig Busch amid reports the Lion Man had submitted an offer to receivers PricewaterhouseCoopers to buy back Zion.

The park is thought to be $2 million in debt when it went into receivership three weeks ago.

Mr Busch claimed he had made a negotiable unconditional cash offer, but the receivers say he has not approached them.

The Lion Man has also proposed to take the 37 big cats to another location, but his mother said that was not possible because of dispute over ownership of the animals.

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As a third option, Mr Busch has offered to lease the park from the receivers immediately, and to be at the park and pay for the care and welfare of the cats.

Mr Orlov said the Lion Man needed to show that his latest offer was not driven by his own ego.

"He borrowed to the hilt then went overseas," the lawyer said, referring to the $1.2 million Mrs Busch lent to her son to pay out his previous business partner, his legal bill, personal debts and for bailing out the park.

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"He can no longer be trusted and he's not responsible."

Mr Orlov questioned the amount Mr Busch raised overseas through his charitable trust, particularly in the United Kingdom.

"The lions haven't seen one cent from this trust. Maybe it's another aspect of him trying to get more money for himself.

"He's been lent money by a lot of people and he hasn't to date paid them back. He hasn't paid for even one kilo of meat to feed the animals at the park," Mr Orlov said.

He had given up trying to persuade Mr Busch to talk.

Mr Busch declined to comment.

"We have no wish to comment at this time," his spokesperson Jill Albrow said.

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