The B.C. Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is investigating allegations of abuse at a large conservation ranch that's home to about 50 species of rare and endangered species.

A group of former and current employees apparently sparked the investigation, alleging that animals had been abused and neglected at the ranch over the past five years.

Todd Streu is a spokesperson for the group.

"Why are they not speaking publicly? Because they're afraid of retribution," Streu said on behalf of the eight staffers. "None of these people are disgruntled ... they're afraid the animals aren't being taken care of."

The Mountain View Conservation Society operates the 250-acre ranch in Fort Langley, B.C., near Vancouver.

Its aim is to breed animals that are facing extinction, so that they can be released into the wild again one day. Two examples are the Vancouver Island Marmot and Cape hunting dogs from South Africa.

Malcolm Weatherston, director of development at the conservation centre, denied claims that any of the animals on the ranch had been mistreated.

"We have volunteers, those people would have been calling the SPCA over the last 25 years if we were doing things wrong. This was all initiated by people that were terminated and that's their opinion" Weatherston said.

"You can't move in and inoculate them . . . like a domestic animal -- these animals have to survive in the wild."

Streu said labour issues had nothing to do with the animal-abuse allegations.

He supplied images of animals he said received improper care, and says the centre refused to pay for veterinarian services. One of the photos showed a rhino that had suffered broken horn.

The SPCA has visited the site and the investigation is continuing.

With a report from CTV's Lisa Rossington