ZOO STANDARD
CAPS
Patron, Professor Randy Malamud, speaks out against aquaria and
zoos on CNN
www.captiveanimals.org
Standard Zoo Licence Conditions
•
Contact: Food, Health
& Safety Team, Mansion House, Penrith CA11 7YG
•
Telephone: (01768) 212400
/ 212352 / 212327 / 212330 / 212365 / 212366
•
Email:
env.health@eden.gov.uk
•
Fax:(01768)
890732
The Council
is responsible for licensing zoos under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.
The granting of a zoo licence is specialised and the government has
specified standards of modern zoo practice. Prior to licensing and
during the term of the licence, inspections of zoos are undertaken
by a specialist vet appointed by the Secretary of State.
A zoo is defined as "any establishment other than a circus or pet
shop, where wild animals are kept for public exhibition on more
than 7 days in any consecutive 12 months"
All licences issued will include the following conditions as
standard, specific conditions will also be attached where these
have been identifed as being necessary during the inspection by the
specialist vet.
A zoo licence lasts 4 years after initial issue and thereafter
lasts 6 years. Regular visits to check on compliance with the
Zoo Licensing Act and the zoo licence are carried out by the
Council's environmental health officers.
Conservation
Measures
The
zoo must:
• promote public
education and awareness about diodiversity conservation. In
particular, provide information about the species of wild animals
kept in the zoo and their natural habitats.
• accommodate and keep the animals in a manner consistent with
the standards set out in the Secretary of State's Standards of
Modern Zoo Practice.
• prevent escapes and put in place measures to be taken in the
event of any escape or unauthorised release of animals
• introduce practical measures designed to prevent the intrusion of
pests and vermin into the premises of the zoo.
• keep up-to-date records of the animals, including numbers of
different animals, acquisitions, births, deaths, disposals and
escapes, causes of deaths and the health of
animals.
Participate in at
least one of the following:
• Research which
benefits the conservation of wild animals
• Training in relevant conservation skills
• Exchanging information about the conservation of wild
animals
• Breeding of wild animals in captivity
• Repopulating an area with wild animals, or re-introducing wild
animals
The zoo must
keep information to show how it has complied with this condition
and supply it to the Licensing Authority upon request.
Insurance
Within one month
of the date of the licence and one month of the date of renewal of
the policy, where applicable, a copy of the zoo's current public
liability insurance policy and of subsequent renewals thereof, to
be sent to the Licensing Authority.
Stock
List
A copy of the
zoo's annual stock list, as defined in Section 9 of the Secretary
of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice, must be forwarded to
the Licensing Authority by 1 April of the year following that to
which it relates.
Hazardous
Animals
The Licensing
Authority to be notified in writing at least one month in advance
of the proposed addition of any animal listed in category 1 of the
Hazardous Animal Categorisation (see Appendix 12 of the Secretary
of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice), which is from a
taxonomic family of which Category 1 species have
not previously been kept in the zoo.
Temporary
Removal of Animals from the Zoo
The licensee/s
to notify the Licensing Authority before the temporary removal from
the zoo (other than for veterinary attention or inter-zoo
movements) of any animal listed in category 1 of the Hazardous
Animal Categorisation of the Secretary of State's modern Zoo
Practice. Such notification to be given as early as possible
and, in any case, no later than twelve hours before the removal,
unless the zoo operator and Licensing Authority mutually agree a
shorter period. When giving notification, details of the
destination and method of transportation of the animal and of the
arrangements for its well-being, as well as for the safety of the
public whilst it is away from the zoo, to be
provided.
Escapes
In the event of
any non-domestic animal escaping from the confines of the zoo,
notification shall be made to the Licensing Authority as soon as
possible, and, in any case, not later than twenty-four hours
following the escape.
Notes
1 These
conditions are attached to the licence without prejudice to the
application, where relevant, of the Secretary of State's Standards
of Modern Zoo Practice specified in accordance with the powers
conferred under Section 9 of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981.
2 The grant of this licence does not imply that the requirements of
any other legislation have been met.
last
updated 08 March 2006