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