3.5 Trees within or near animal enclosures must be regularly inspected and lopped or
felled as necessary to avoid animals being harmed by falling branches, toxicity or trauma.
Trees and climbing plants must be pruned to prevent aiding animal escape.
3.6 Distance or barriers between animals and between enclosures and visitors must be
sufficient to minimise transmission of disease or of potential pathogens.
Veterinary care
(See also Appendix 5 – Veterinary Facilities)
3.7 A comprehensive programme of care must be established and maintained under the
supervision of a veterinary surgeon who is familiar with current practice in the care of zoo
animals, particularly in the types maintained in the collection. He or she must make
arrangements to meet the ethical responsibilities of veterinary cover, set out in the Guide
to Professional Conduct of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.
3.8 Where a zoo uses a local veterinary practice for basic cover, supported by a specialist
(or a specialist supported by a local veterinary practice), adequate advance arrangements
must be made to allow early contact and discussion between all parties whenever
necessary, and particularly for emergency cases.
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3.9 The veterinary surgeon should be responsible for, or actively involved in, the following:
a) routine inspections of the collection;
b) directing or carrying out treatment of all sick animals;
c) administration of vaccines, worming and other aspects of preventive medicine;
d) health monitoring of animals including submission of blood and other samples for
laboratory examination;
e) safe and proper collection, preparation and dispatch of diagnostic and other
samples. (Where these tasks are to be carried out by someone other than the
veterinary surgeon, a suitably qualified or appropriately trained member of zoo staff
should be nominated to carry out the task e.g. a laboratory technician or veterinary
nurse);
f) training of zoo personnel in health and hygiene;
g) ensuring that post-mortem examinations of animals are carried out where
necessary;
h) supervision of quarantine premises and other such tasks required by law or as
part of good zoo veterinary practice;
i) the nutrition and the design of diets;
j) planning and exhibit design;
k) the establishment of written procedures to be followed in the event of the
accidental use of dangerous drugs.
3.10 The level of veterinary facilities must be consistent with the welfare needs of the
animals.
3.11 Comprehensive records must be kept – where possible on computer – and be made
available to inspectors covering the following:
a) preventive medicine;
b) clinical medicine and surgery;
c) pathological findings from ante-mortem testing; and
d) results of post-mortem examination and testing.
3.12 There must be systems for regular review, by the relevant veterinary and curatorial
staff, of clinical, behavioural and pathological records and mortality. Husbandry and
preventive medical practices must be reviewed where problems become apparent.
3.13 Zoo management must ensure that the zoo, or a local hospital, or their veterinarian
has readily available antidotes to potentially toxic veterinary products used at the zoo.
3.14 A member of staff must be readily available at all times to take decisions regarding
the euthanasia of sick animals on veterinary advice. There must be provision of an
Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice
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effective humane method of euthanasia and standard written protocols should be set
down.
3.15 Adequate facilities must be available either at the zoo or within a reasonable distance
for the post-mortem examination of all species held at the zoo.
3.16 Dead animals must be handled in a way which minimises the risk of transmission of
infection.
3.17 Animals that die at the zoo should be examined post-mortem in accordance with
veterinary advice. Where appropriate, samples for diagnosis or health monitoring should
be taken for laboratory examination.
3.18 Retained samples must be stored in conditions advised by the veterinary surgeon
and away from animal feeding substances. The establishment of a reference collection
should be encouraged.
Isolation and containment
3.19 Dedicated accommodation, off-show where necessary, should be available for the
isolation and examination of newly arrived animals, and for the quarantine and care of
unduly distressed, sick or injured animals.
3.20 Facilities should be available for hand-rearing and nursing animals.
3.21 Newly arrived animals should be kept isolated for as long as is necessary to ensure
proper examination, acclimatisation and quarantine before introduction to other animals in
the collection.
3.22 Particular attention must be paid to hygiene in the quarters where isolated or
quarantined animals are kept.
3.23 Protective clothing and utensils used by staff in the isolation area must be used,
cleaned and stored only in that area.
Sanitation and control of disease
3.24 Clinical waste and refuse must be regularly removed and disposed of in a manner
approved by the local authority.
3.25 A safe and effective programme for the control or deterrence of pests and vermin and
where necessary predators, must be established and maintained throughout the zoo.
3.26 Health risks posed by the use of power hoses on animal waste must be minimised.
3.27 Staff should be instructed to report in confidence any medical condition or disability
which might affect their capacity to manage the animals in a safe and competent manner.
Specialist techniques
3.28 Specialist techniques used on animals to make them safe for exhibit or to allow them
to be exhibited in a particular way (e.g. pinioning waterfowl) must be kept under continual
review. Current legislation or codes of practice must be followed.