A zoo blamed over the deaths of dozens of exotic animals will remain open after its owners yesterday agreed to pay off their debts.
Borth Wild Animal Kingdom lost its licence for big cats last year when two lynx died.
Other animals died in unexplained circumstances, including an emu and a squirrel monkey.
Dean Tweedy feeding a Rea at The Animalarium in Borth, Wales, which he owns along with his wife Tracy. The couple left their house in Kent to start a new life in Wales
The zoo, which is near Aberystwyth, mid Wales, temporarily closed, leading it to run up debts of almost £350,000.
An escaped lynx, about twice the size of a domestic tabby, was shot dead last October by a marksman employed by the council after police helicopters and baited traps failed to recapture her.
Shortly after, a second lynx died when it was accidentally strangled to death on a catchpole while a zoo worker was rushing to move her ahead of an inspection.
The Mumbrays ran the zoo, then called the Borth Animalarium for 17 years before retiring.
A lynx in the enclosure at The Animalarium in Borth, Wales. The young animal was shot dead by a council-appointed marksman after police helicopters and baited traps failed to recapture her
It was faced with being shut down if it could not find the cash, but the High Court in London yesterday was told it had agreed a Company Voluntary Arrangement with creditors.
Dean and Tracy Tweedy took over the zoo in May 2017 after buying it from Jean and Alan Mumbray for £625,000.
Tracy Tweedy said they had agreed to pay around £40,000 of the £350,000 debt owed.
The psychotherapist and street artist gave up their careers and moved to Wales from Kent last year with their three children after purchasing the zoo for £625,000.
They have been criticised for lacking specialist knowledge.
Mrs Tweedy, 47, said: ‘All you can do is move on and learn from things that have happened. Business is picking up now.’
Before moving to Wales the couple lived in Milton Regis, Kent, where Mr Tweedy worked as an artist. The zoo was faced with being shut down if it could not find the cash, but the High Court in London yesterday was told it had agreed a Company Voluntary Arrangement with creditors