(Top photo: giraffes at South Lakes Safari Zoo. Photo: Shaun Woods, via)A zoo in Cumbria is facing calls for its license to be removed after it was revealed that nearly 500 animals died in its care in less than four years.A report from zoo inspectors into conditions at South Lakes Safari Zoo in Cumbria found that 486 animals in total died of causes ranging from emaciation to hypothermia between December of 2013 and September of 2016. A spokesman for owner David Gill said: "The current arrangement sees the entire zoo site leased to Cumbria Zoo Company Limited under a six-month lease. Mr Gill remains the licence holder, but otherwise has stepped away from all trading and management activities connected with the zoo."Animal deaths in zoos have been shocking before – let us never forget Harambe – but the revelation that 12 percent of the animals in the care of South Lakes Safari Zoo died on average each year is something to choke on. Among the grim list of animal deaths reported are those of a tortoise which was electrocuted on electric fencing, a squirrel monkey found rotting behind a radiator and two snow leopards who were discovered partially eaten in their enclosure in 2015.This isn't the first time conditions at the zoo have been called into question. In June last year, the zoo was fined £255,000 for health and safety breaches after zoo keeper Sarah McClay was mauled to by a Sumatran tiger in 2013. South Lakes Safari Zoo Ltd also pleaded guilty to contravening the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 on two earlier hearings, after another zookeeper fell from a ladder while preparing to feed big cats in 2014.The report has been published ahead of a meeting of Barrow borough council on the 6th of March, which will review an application by the zoo for the renewal of its licence.