BUBO Bubo the giant eagle owl is among much-loved birds and animals whose future is in doubt under new cuts proposed for Hampstead Heath.

The City of London, which manages the Heath, wants to shave £50,000 off the running costs of the small zoo at Golders Hill Park.

The proposed cut was revealed at a meeting of Heath  management committee on Monday, when a report discussed by its members suggested reducing the size of the zoo and butterfly house to save money. It would mean keeping a “…smaller number of species relevant to the wildlife of the Heath”, the proposed strategy said.  

Heath insiders told the New Journal that an experienced animal keeper at Golders Hill was recently given a redundancy package, while attractions such as Bubo Bubo, the colourful Lady Amherst’s pheasant and Patagonia maras – large, goat-like rodents – could face eviction from the zoo, to the north of the main Heath.

A New Journal investigation revealed last year how the City of London hopes to make savings across its annual £4.5million budget despite holding an asset fund worth £6billion. We reported last week how a new parliamentary Bill could allow it to raise money by letting out the Heath for more private events “a move dubbed by critics as a “Heath for hire” policy.

On the Golders Hill zoo, a Heath source said: “They want to downgrade it. It will mean there are less animals – thus saving cash. It would mean popular creatures may go.”

Elsewhere, Heath staff say they are being called in to discuss changes to rotas, raising concerns that skeleton staff will be on duty at weekends.

“There is the worry that it will affect Heath users in terms of things like picking up litter, opening toilets and keeping the space well-run,” said one insider, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Kiki Kendrick, who organised a protest last week calling on the City to hand over management of the Heath to the Mayor of London, said: “The cuts at Golders Hill Park zoo are yet more evidence that the City cannot be trusted to manage vital educational and inspirational environments or facilities. Now is not the time to be losing our last contact points with nature. Sack them.”

When approached for a comment, a City of London spokesman did not directly respond to questions regarding the zoo.

Instead, he said the City was “committed to ensuring the Heath’s long-term protection and conservation”.

The spokesman added: “Our staff and volunteers are managing habitats for wildlife and providing opportunities for young people to learn about the natural environment.”