ANIMAL rights campaigners were today due to demonstrate outside a North Yorkshire holiday attraction as part of a national day of action against zoos.

Banner-waving members of the Captive Animal Protection Society (CAPS) were expected to protest at Flamingo Land theme park and zoo, at Kirby Misperton.

Organisers said campaigners would be turning out in animal costumes, using megaphones and leafleting Bank Holiday day-trippers as they converged on the popular destination.

A spokesman for the protesters said August Bank Holiday Monday had been chosen for the protest specifically because it was one of the busiest days of the year for zoos and entertainment parks.

"We are hoping to highlight the plight of the animal prisoners who are kept captive in areas devoid of environmental enrichment and displaying disturbed behaviour as a result of their lack of stimulus.

"Zoos have for far too long tried to use the excuse that they are existing purely for conservation reasons."

A spokeswoman for Flamingo Land said it was the normal practice of organisations like CAPS to hand out leaflets on animals in captivity to passing vehicles and to people visiting Flamingo Land theme park and zoo. At no time has any visitor turned their car around when presented with such literature," she claimed.

"When they visit the zoo they immediately realise that the animals portrayed in the leaflets are not those present at Flamingo Land."