Welfare of zoo animals
A zoo is a place where wild animals are exhibited to the public at least seven days a year. There are special rules for keeping animals in a zoo.
Rules on the welfare of zoo animals
The main rules on the welfare of zoo animals are about:
- Giving animals enough space to express their natural behaviour, like digging, climbing, swimming and nesting.
- Housing animals in social groups or alone, whatever is natural for them.
- Giving animals enough space for grooming, growing and reproduction.
- Guaranteeing the safety of humans and animals. Zoos must have measures in place to prevent animals from escaping. They must also have an emergency evacuation plan.
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A compulsory registration system that every zoo must have, containing details about the animals, their diet, breeding and care.