Australia Zoo has sent a cease and desist letter to a former zookeeper who appeared on the reality show "Farmer Wants a Wife," alleging that her recent interview with the Daily Mail violated a non-disparagement agreement. The letter, sent by FC Lawyers on behalf of the zoo, claims that Lily Tomkinson's interview may be in breach of a settlement agreement reached in March.
Tomkinson, who worked at the zoo's wildlife hospital for approximately two years, spoke to the Daily Mail about her experiences, describing a working environment she felt was at odds with the organization's public image. She also detailed alleged circumstances surrounding her departure in January, stating that her relationship with management deteriorated after she began posting videos of herself performing volunteer wildlife rescues outside of work. According to Tomkinson, zoo representatives asked her to stop publishing certain content due to concerns about its connection to her employment.
The legal letter states that the settlement agreement included a clause requiring Tomkinson to refrain from making disparaging comments about Australia Zoo, its directors, officers, or employees. As part of that agreement, the zoo agreed to pay her a modest employment termination payment.
Tomkinson's interview also touched on her perceptions of the Irwin family's involvement at the wildlife hospital, noting that their public and professional commitments meant their appearances were less frequent than she had anticipated. She expressed disappointment that ordinary hospital staff were generally not permitted to conduct the release of rehabilitated sea turtles and sea snakes, alleging that these releases had to be performed by members of the Irwin family, and sometimes arranged around the attendance of special guests.
While on "Farmer Wants a Wife," Tomkinson also shared her experiences with the show's production, claiming that certain positive comments made by the farmer about her were not included in the broadcast, and that she felt the editing made it appear he was less interested in her. She also found restrictions on phone access during filming difficult.
The letter from FC Lawyers demands that Tomkinson "cease and desist" from making further disparaging comments about Australia Zoo, its wildlife hospital, or the Irwins. It also requests that she contact the Daily Mail to withdraw her statements and rescind her consent to be quoted.
Tomkinson stated her commitment to animal rescue and conservation has not ended with her employment at Australia Zoo. She is attempting to develop her social media presence into a full-time career focused on wildlife education and conservation. Australia Zoo has not officially commented on Tomkinson's account of her employment or the organization's social media rules, beyond the legal letter issued through its lawyers. The Daily Mail has not independently verified all of Tomkinson's claims and does not suggest that the zoo or its management acted improperly.