Zoos Much More Than Entertainment, Say Industry Leaders
LONDON (BBC News) - Zoo and wildlife park leaders have said the industry is "much more than entertainment" in today's world, as they meet to discuss new legislation aimed at raising standards and ensuring conservation efforts.
The British & Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums met at Jimmy's Farm & Wildlife Park near Ipswich for its annual conference, attended by representatives from across the industry. The meeting comes after the government introduced new rules to raise standards and ensure that zoos and aquariums are prioritizing wildlife conservation and animal welfare.
"We're always striving to do better," said Jimmy Doherty, owner of Jimmy's Farm and TV presenter. "The days when you go to a zoo or wildlife park for entertainment are still there, but it's much more than that. Our work is vital and we want to educate people about our conservation efforts."
Doherty's farm and wildlife park is home to four polar bears as well as many other animals, including rescued bears from Sweden. The park also participates in breeding programs and conservation research projects.
The government has introduced new legislation to update rules for keeping animals in zoos, including requiring larger habitats for elephants, phasing out touch experiences with certain marine animals, and banning the practice of tethering birds.
Animal welfare minister Baroness Hayman praised the reform as "long overdue" and said it would help deliver economic growth and make lives better for people across the country.
We are making sure all sectors have the tools they need to thrive, which is vital in our mission to deliver Plan for Change," she said.
Industry leaders agree that the legislation will bring everyone up to a higher standard, protecting species in zoos and ensuring that conservation efforts are being made.
"This will hold everyone to a much higher standard to protect the species in our care, but also what we're doing for conservation in terms of protecting these species in the wild," said Tyler Whitnall, director of Hertfordshire Zoo.
However, not all organizations are convinced that the new legislation goes far enough. The RSPCA has expressed concerns over its limited scope and felt it did not go "far enough to protect every animal".
The charity welcomed some aspects of the reform but was particularly concerned about elephants being kept in zoos and certain marine animals being handled by visitors.
Wildlife welfare charity Born Free has called for the revision of zoo licensing processes to ensure that animals are afforded the best possible care, stating that zoos can "never fully provide for the complex needs of most wild animal species".
Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.