A SPANISH zoo has spoken out after animal right protesters dressed as orcas and stormed a Bournemouth travel agent.

Protesters from PETA took over Bournemouth’s latest TUI branch in Castlepoint on August 22, calling for the travel agent to cut ties with marine parks, SeaWorld and Loro Parque.

The president of Loro Parque has since spoken out stating that the zoo makes decisions on a scientific rather than an emotional basis.

They state that cetaceans are under strict control for their wellbeing and that the Loro Parque Foundation has spent more than €27million on conservation projects.

Their work has saved 12 species of parrots from extinction.

President of Loro Parque, Wolfgang Kiessling, said: “PETA once denounced us for mistreating animals, and this accusation was dismissed by Seprona, a subdivision of the Guardia Civil in charge of animal welfare.”

He added that Loro Parque was named ‘the best zoo in the world’ by TripAdvisor for two consecutive years.

It also received the gold medal of the city of Puerto de la Cruz, the gold medal of the government of the Canary Islands, the gold medal and gold plaque of the Spanish ministry of trader and tourism and is the only company in the Canary Islands to have been awarded the Prince Felipe Prize.