Zion Wildlife Gardens ownership battle intensifies

Receivers have confirmed the sale of the park to new owners who plan to employ Mr Busch. Photo / Herald on Sunday

With one relative arrested, more court action planned and alleged foul play at work, the feud between mother and son over Zion Wildlife Gardens has intensified, says a lawyer.

The Northland wildlife park and its assets have been sold to Zion Wildlife Kingdom Ltd following a long-running feud between the park's operator Patricia Busch and her son, Lion Man Craig Busch.

The park was placed into liquidation in August last year when it was unable to pay debts said to be over $100,000, sparking a fight over ownership of the park's 36 cats between Mr Busch and his mother.

The park was bought by Mr Busch in 2002, but Ms Busch has been running the park since 2006.

Since Mr Busch was dismissed in 2008, the warring mother and son have faced each other in various court proceedings relating to the park, its debts and assets ownership.

Receivers PricewaterhouseCoopers yesterday confirmed the sale of the park to new owners who plan to employ Mr Busch.

Ms Busch's lawyer Evgeny Orlov told Newstalk ZB today that he planned to file court proceedings as they were not aware the new owners were involved with Mr Busch.

"The whole sale of the park basically has been done for Mr Busch or with Mr Busch's association."

Mr Orlov alleges further foul play. He said a group of people connected to Mr Busch, including his former accountant, broke into Ms Busch's house and stole a laptop computer and database, and forced her to sign documents.

Ms Busch's daughter Megan was arrested yesterday on the park's grounds for breaching a trespass notice automatically issued when the park was sold.