www.defra.gov.uk Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice © Crown copyright 2012 You may re-use this information (not including logos) free of charge in any format or medium, under the terms of the Open Government Licence. To view this licence, visit www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/ or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or e-mail: [email protected] This document/publication is also available on our website at: http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/zoos/ Any enquiries regarding this document/publication should be sent to us at: Zoos Branch, Wildlife Species Conservation Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Zone 1/14b Temple Quay House 2 The Square Temple Quay Bristol BS1 6EB Telephone: 0117 372 3606 Email: [email protected] PB Number PB13806 Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice Contents Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 1 Interpretation of terms used ................................................................................................. 1 Animal welfare in the zoo environment ................................................................................ 2 Section 1 - Provision of food and water ............................................................................... 4 Section 2 - Provision of a suitable environment ................................................................... 6 Section 3 - Provision of animal health care .......................................................................... 8 Routine observation ......................................................................................................... 8 Enclosures ....................................................................................................................... 8 Veterinary care ................................................................................................................. 8 Isolation and containment .............................................................................................. 10 Sanitation and control of disease ................................................................................... 10 Specialist techniques ...................................................................................................... 10 Section 4 - Provision of opportunity to express most normal behaviour ............................ 11 Section 5 - Provision of protection from fear and distress .................................................. 12 Section 6 - Transportation and movement of live animals ................................................. 13 Section 7 - Conservation and education measures ........................................................... 14 Conservation measures within and beyond the zoo ....................................................... 14 Education measures ....................................................................................................... 14 Section 8 - Public safety in the zoo .................................................................................... 16 Principles ........................................................................................................................ 16 Insurance ....................................................................................................................... 16 Enclosures ..................................................................................................................... 16 Management and maintenance ...................................................................................... 17 Protection of public ......................................................................................................... 17 Free-ranging species ...................................................................................................... 18 Escapes ......................................................................................................................... 18 Exits ............................................................................................................................... 20 Signs .............................................................................................................................. 20 Section 9 - Stock records ................................................................................................... 21 Section 10 - Staff and training ............................................................................................ 23 Section 11 - Public facilities ............................................................................................... 24 First-Aid .......................................................................................................................... 24 Toilets ............................................................................................................................. 24 Parking ........................................................................................................................... 24 Provisions for particular needs ....................................................................................... 25 Section 12 - Display of zoo licence .................................................................................... 26 Appendix 1- The EC Zoos Directive ................................................................................... 27 Closure of zoos .............................................................................................................. 27 Appendix 2 - Ethical review process .................................................................................. 29 Appendix 3 - Conservation and education ......................................................................... 31 Measures ....................................................................................................................... 31 Conservation .................................................................................................................. 31 Education ....................................................................................................................... 32 Appendix 4 - Animal transport, acquisition and disposal .................................................... 33 Transport of live animals ................................................................................................ 33 Animal acquisition .......................................................................................................... 33 Disposal of live animals .................................................................................................. 33 Animals intended for release .......................................................................................... 33 Euthanasia ..................................................................................................................... 34 Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice Appendix 5 - Veterinary facilities ........................................................................................ 35 Veterinary services ......................................................................................................... 35 On-site facilities .............................................................................................................. 36 Post-mortem facilities ..................................................................................................... 36 Appendix 6 - Animal contact areas .................................................................................... 38 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 38 General provisions ......................................................................................................... 38 Walk-through exhibits ..................................................................................................... 39 Diving experience exhibits .............................................................................................. 39 Touch-pools ................................................................................................................... 40 Drive-through enclosures ............................................................................................... 40 Appendix 7 - Training of animals ....................................................................................... 42 General provision ........................................................................................................... 42 Use of animals in demonstrations outside the zoo ......................................................... 42 Appendix 8 - Specialist exhibits ......................................................................................... 44 8.1 Invertebrates ............................................................................................................ 44 8.2 Reptiles and amphibians .......................................................................................... 45 8.3 Venomous species ................................................................................................... 47 8.4 Pinnipeds and marine birds .....................................................................................