Last month the company, which operates Movie World and Sea World on the Gold Coast, outlined its plan to develop the $220million African Safari World at the zoo.

The 40-hectare park would include roller coasters, water rides, a four-dimensional theatre, man-made lakes and mountains, and a wildlife education and conservation centre.

Village Roadshow International theme parks chief executive John Harnden said it had the potential to create 6700 jobs during construction and employ 500 workers. He has previously stated animal welfare was paramount. Village Roadshow hopes to start work on the park next year with a view to a 1020 opening.

However, Mr Hancocks - who was at the helm of the zoo between 1998 and 2003 - said he was "appalled'' by the prospect.

"Although I have nothing against theme parks, the idea of locating a theme park on top of a zoo is reckless, because they're incompatible with one another,'' he said.

"It would completely destroy the whole purpose of the zoo, which is to provide education and forge links between people living in the suburbs and wildlife. The thrill rides will completely overwhelm the zoo experience.''

Mr Hancocks also questioned whether Village Roadshow could deliver the project on budget.

"They're talking about building a world-class facility for $220 million, which is a very small figure if they're going to deliver anything of quality. They have compared the park to Animal Kingdom in the United States, but Disney spent 1.5 billion US dollars on it, over a decade ago.

"From my point of view, the whole idea is ludicrous and it would be an enormous backward step for the zoo.''

The State Government believes the park will attract millions of interstate and overseas visitors and has backed the project, with an interdepart

mental committee assessing its merits.

The zoo attracts 270,000 visitors annually, and Mr Hancocks said it was "fanciful'' for Village Roadshow to believe the theme park could lure the touted one million people through its doors each year.

Zoos Victoria chairman Andrew Fairley has previously stated it would not support the facility being operated by anyone else.

Friends of the Zoo president Christina Dennis told the ABC's 7.30 Report last Friday the zoo was a significant asset for Victoria.

"Giving away the land, the animals, the infrastructure to a private company? I can't see how if you've got a conflict between shareholders profits and breeding programs, that the shareholder profits wouldn't come first,'' she said.

"To have screams and shrills that you would get from a roller coaster ride, I think would be upsetting for them [the animals].

"I can't imagine any animal, even humans, getting used to that sort of noise.''

cameron.tait@fairfaxmedia.com.au