Britain's zoo OVERHAUL: UK animal parks will be forced to introduce larger habitats for elephants, ban touching in aquariums and ditch tethering birds under new government rules
British zoos and animal parks face an enormous overhaul thanks to new government rules announced today.
Under new legislation, the minimum size of elephant enclosures will increase sixfold, there will be a touching ban in aquariums and the practice of tethering birds of prey long-term will be ditched.
There will also be curbs on the sourcing of animals from around the world, double-gated entry system requirements for zoos that house dangerous animals, and the 'appropriate availability of firearms' in the event of a life-threatening situation.
The 'long-overdue' reforms, announced by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), are 'the most advanced in the world' and represent a 'significant step up' in legal requirements.
But it means several British zoos will be forced to significantly expand their elephant enclosures – including Chester Zoo.
The current requirement is for a minimum space of 3,000m² for all adult elephants.
But the new rules mean that by 2040, all outdoor enclosures must be at least 20,000m² for five elephants or less – the equivalent of a sixfold increase.
This must be boosted further by at least 2,500m² for each additional animal over two years old.
Chester Zoo, which is home to three Asian elephants, has a total habitat size of 8,365m². This means their enclosure space will need to more than double over the next 15 years.
Blackpool Zoo's outdoor area for their six elephants stands at 8,000m². This means it will have to nearly triple to reach the required size by 2040.
Colchester Zoo, meanwhile, has a 4,806m² outdoor paddock for their three female elephants, and a 2,681m² outdoor paddock for their male elephant.
Since the requirements also apply to a lone elephant, and the male and females are kept separate, an enormous overhaul would be required for both to reach the new minimum recommendation.
West Midlands Safari Park also has four elephants and a total outdoor space believed to be in the region of around 13,000m², meaning they will also have to increase their enclosure size.
Both Blair Drummond Safari Park and Longleat Safari Park house one elephant each – but due to their age these elephants will likely no longer be alive by the 2040 deadline.
Howletts Wild Animal Park, in Kent, is currently home to the UK's largest herd of elephants with 13 individuals in total.
The Aspinall Foundation, the charity who work in partnership with Howletts, are in the process of rewilding the herd to their ancestral homelands in Kenya – which they aim to do well before the 2040 deadline.
Meanwhile Woburn Safari Park, Noah's Ark Zoo Farm in Bristol and Whipsnade Zoo already house their elephants in enclosures that would meet the new rules.
The updated measures, which form part of the new Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain, will also see the practice of tethering birds of prey as a method of long-term accommodation phased out, with a shift to large aviary enclosures.
Meanwhile aquariums will no longer be allowed to let visitors touch fish and cephalopods – including creatures such as the ray and the octopus.
These are highly intelligent animals and handling causes them stress.
Other measures include a curb on the sourcing of animals from around the world, and greater protections for the public such as double-gated entry systems and the appropriate availability of firearms in zoos which house dangerous animals.
Announcing the measures at Chester Zoo yesterday (Fri), animal welfare minister Baroness Hayman said: '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 foundation for an even stronger, even more compassionate future for all zoos and aquariums —and the animals they protect.
'This is the first step as part of our commitment to deliver the most ambitious animal welfare reforms in a generation.'
Dr Jo Judge, CEO of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) which represents over 130 zoos and aquariums said: 'The new standards are a significant step up in legal requirements and cement Britain's position as a global leader for zoos and aquariums.
'BIAZA members already lead the way in animal care and conservation and we have been working closely with Defra officials to realise these updated standards.
'We are delighted to see them published today, demonstrating government's and the sector's commitment to the highest levels of animal care, and helping empower zoos and aquariums to keep leading the fight for nature.'
However, campaigners argue there should be no elephants in British zoos at all.
Born Free's Captivity Research and Policy Manager, Chris Lewis said: 'While an increase in overall enclosure space for elephants is welcomed, we are disappointed to see that elephants will continue to be legally kept in British zoos despite the inherent welfare challenges they face.
'It is impossible to meet the welfare needs of an elephant in a zoo environment as evidenced by an ever-growing mountain of scientific evidence.
'Additionally, zoos have been given 15 years to get up to standard. Despite the increase in size requirements, it does not change the harsh, unsuitable climatic conditions in Britain, nor does it address the reality that it is impossible to recreate natural elephant societies in a zoo environment.
'It is indeed ironic that the launch of the standards has been held at a zoo which does not currently meet the new enclosure requirements for elephants, with it being less than half as big as what is required, and whose record of keeping elephants is highly questionable.
'Since 2009, 12 elephants have sadly died at Chester Zoo, eight of whom were under the age of five.
'These complex, highly intelligent animals deserve better. We must use these standards as a starting point to phase elephants out of zoos, starting with those that cannot meet these new enclosure requirements.'
Chester Zoo said they have already drawn up proposals for an expanded elephant habitat.
CEO Jamie Christon said: 'These plans are designed not only to meet the new standards but to far exceed them – just as we've always strived to do.
'We're excited to begin putting these plans into action, now we have the certainty of the newly-published standards.
'Elephants are one of the world's most iconic and charismatic animals, but sadly they remain one of the most threatened mammal species on the planet.
'Wild populations continue to face relentless pressures from habitat loss, human conflict, poaching and disease. It's therefore essential that conservation zoos like ours continue to play a leading role in safeguarding their future.'
ELEPHANTS ARE HIGHLY INTELLIGENT AND VERY SOCIAL WITH 'SOME HUMAN-LIKE PERSONALITY TRAITS'
Research has established that elephants' emotional characteristics are similar to those of humans.
It turns out the animals have distinct personalities.
They can be aggressive, attentive and outgoing.
For the study scientists asked elephant riders, or mahouts, to answer questions about the behaviors of the animals they worked with each day.
Dr Martin Steltmann, who worked on the new report, explained how his team defined the traits that categorize elephants.
He said: 'Attentiveness is related to how an elephant acts in and perceives its environment.
'Sociability describes how an elephant seeks closeness to other elephants and humans and how popular they are as social partners.
'Aggressiveness shows how aggressively an elephant acts towards other elephants and how much it interferes in their social interaction.'
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