Zoo Welfare Reforms
ZooCheck New Zealand advocates that a legislative programme of zoo reform be undertaken which will:
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Establish enforceable minimum animal welfare standards, reviewed periodically by an independent review panel.
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Establish a mandatory licensing system to include a licence to operate, a licence to breed and compulsory accredited staff training programmes.
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Introduce a provision into zoo licences according all rare and endangered species a 'protected status', preventing zoos from transferring, selling, exchanging or destroying any individuals of these species without an independent consultative process.
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Introduce a 'passport system' for captive wildlife in zoos to ensure accountability in the transfer, sale, exchange or disposal of stock.
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Draw up provisions for a 'Zoo Bond' in the form of a guaranteed closure fund into which all zoos pay. This will underwrite operational and care costs in the event of closure for a limited period thereby ensuring that the closure of zoos does not cause the unnecessary suffering of zoo animals.
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Establish an independent national consultative panel to include wildlife professionals, humane society representatives, zoo professionals and animal behaviourists and psychologists charged with drawing up ethical guidelines, procedures and a compulsory Code of Conduct aimed at protecting wild animals in captivity.
New Zealand currently operates codes of welfare to regulate the animal industry.
