Design of Enclosures

An enclosure occupied by several animals must allow for normal patterns of group behavior. It must be of sufficient size, and the animals in the enclosure must be so managed, as to:

Display

Each animal must be exhibited in a naturalistic setting which resembles the animal’s habitat and provides for its behavioral and physical well-being. The display should also provide the means for the enrichment of natural behavioral activities in order to further its welfare, produce a more interesting educational exhibit and aid in the reduction of stereotypical behavior.

Displays must provide recreational and educational opportunities which encourage an increase in public understanding of, and responsibility for, animals and their environment. By the use of attendants, physical barriers or both, protect the animals from abuse and harassment by the viewing public.

Shelter and Space

Each animal must be provided with shaded, covered or sheltered areas appropriate to protect it from adverse conditions attributable to the climate and any other environmental factor. Each animal must be provided with sufficient space in all directions to enable it to have normal locomotion, to be protected from undue dominance and conflict, and to be provided with its social breeding and husbandry needs.

Visitor Facilities

There must be:

On each animal enclosure, there must be signs and illustrations that enable the visiting public to identify each species in the enclosure and provide information about the animals. The information to be provided should include:

Signs

Signs requesting the public to refrain from interfering with and feeding the animals must be conspicuously placed at appropriate places. If rules have been established to be observed by the visiting public, these must also be conspicuously placed at the entrance of the premises.

Safety

1. Construction of enclosure:

An enclosure must be so constructed that if the visiting public and the animal attendants exercise due care, they are safe and an animal in the enclosure can escape only in circumstances that cannot reasonably be foreseen and guarded against, and the risk of injury to an animal in the enclosure is minimized.

Vegetation or other material in or near an enclosure must be removed or repositioned if it would otherwise assist an animal to escape.

The enclosure in which a digging or burrowing animal is kept must be constructed with a subterranean floor consisting entirely of concrete covered by sufficient soil so that the animal can dig or burrow without escaping. An alternative is to construct an enclosed fence, galvanized metal mesh or concrete extending below ground level to a depth of at least 1 meter and then extended horizontally with the enclosure for at least one meter so that the animal can dig or burrow without escaping.

2. Gates, doors and slides:

Gates or doors on the perimeter of an enclosure must open inwards to the enclosure. If an entrance to an enclosure is a safety entrance through successive gates or doors, they must all open inwards towards the enclosure.

A gate, door or slide giving entry to an enclosure must be so designed that an animal within cannot: (a) lift the gate or door off its hinges, (b) lift a slide off its tracks and (c) unfasten security devices such as locks.

3. Dangerous animals:

The entrance to an enclosure (other than a reptile pit) in which a dangerous animal is kept must be through a safety entrance of successive gates or doors which are kept locked unless a person is within the enclosure.

If the doors or gates through which such an enclosure is entered are electrically operated, there must also be alternative means by which they may be manually operated without risk to the operator.

The operating position for gates, doors, slides or other means of access must provide safe access and a clear view of the access way and the immediate surrounding area.

4. Public barriers:

If direct contact between a dangerous animal and the public is possible, the animal must be separated from the public by a barrier so designed that direct contact with the animal is avoided, and evasion of the barrier (especially children) is made as difficult as is reasonably practicable.

5. Warning signs:

If an enclosure contains an animal that is known to be dangerous, or may reasonably be suspected of being dangerous, or is dangerous because it includes an electrified fence, the enclosure must be provided with an adequate number of clearly visible and legible signs giving proper warning of the danger by means of words, symbols (e.g. red circle with slash), or both.

The signs in a drive-through area must warn visitors to the area not to leave their motor vehicle, keep all doors of the motor vehicle locked, and keep all windows and sunroof of the motor vehicle closed. If the motor vehicle becomes immobile, the occupants should be instructed to sound the horn or flash the headlamps and warning lamps and wait for the arrival of a rescue vehicle.

Indoor housing of animals

Lighting within indoor animal housing must be adequate for proper cleaning of the housing and for carrying out routine health and hygiene checks.

Indoor housing for an animal must be provided with ventilation that is sufficient to maintain the health of the animal, and is so designed as to minimize undue draught, odors and condensation.

If a diurnal animal is housed indoors, light must be provided in the housing and must be of such quality, intensity and duration as to disturb as little as possible the normal physiological and behavioral patterns of the animal.