Zoo animals to get extra space in ‘lengthy late’ welfare reforms

Zoos will probably be legally required to present animals extra enclosure area as “long overdue” animal welfare reforms come into power.

The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) mentioned new requirements revealed on Saturday would modernise British zoo practices for the primary time in over a decade.

Under the adjustments, elephants should be given higher habitats and the regulation will carry an finish to practices just like the long-term tethering of birds of prey and letting guests contact fish and cephalopods similar to rays and octopuses.

Jamie Christon, leader govt of Chester Zoo, instructed the BBC he welcomed the adjustments, and the method of rolling them out had already begun.

Zoos and aquariums will face a two-year timeline to evolve to the adjustments, which can even require them to reinforce conservation requirements and protection measures when holding bad animals.

Mr Christon mentioned the zoo have been running with Defra to expand the reforms they usually weren’t a “major surprise”.

“These standards have been delayed for the last two years, really, as a result of changing governments”, Mr Christon mentioned.

“That’s meant that zoos haven’t been able to invest, and now that we’ll be able to get the standards out there, all 196 pages of them.”

Chester Zoo has already deliberate to extend the dimensions of its elephant enclosure.

Animal welfare minister Baroness Hayman mentioned the transfer was once the “first step” within the govt’s plan to ship the “most ambitious welfare reforms in a generation”.

She mentioned: “We are a nation of animal lovers, and our best zoos and aquariums are truly world leaders in setting the standard for how wild animals should be kept.

“Today’s long-overdue reforms lay the basis for a good more potent, much more compassionate long run for all zoos and aquariums – and the animals they offer protection to.”

Dr Jo Judge, CEO of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, which represents over 130 zoos and aquariums, said its members have been “running carefully” with Defra officials to meet the updated standards.

“The new requirements are an important step up in criminal necessities and cement Britain’s place as an international chief for zoos and aquariums”, she mentioned.