Nutrition and Hygiene

Each animal should be offered a balanced diet with a variety of wholesome and palatable food and water in quantities that are sufficient to provide for its good health and normal growth.

Veterinary advice must be obtained and followed in relation to the addition of food supplements to the ordinary diet of animals.

Food must be clean, unspoiled and free from chemical and biological contamination.

Water for animals must be changed daily and not allowed to become stagnant.

High standards of cleanliness must be observed by staff engaged in the preparation of food and drinks for the animals and adequate facilities must be provided for the cleaning of utensils and equipment used.

Utensils and equipment used in preparing and distributing food and drink must be cleaned after use and kept clean when not used.

Food preparation areas must be washed down daily and treated with appropriate disinfectants. Utensils and other equipment used in preparing the food and drink must not be used for any other purpose.

Waste disposal

Provision must be made for the removal and disposal of:

Pest and predator control

Implement an effective and regular program for the control of ectoparasites and vertebrate pests. Enclosures must be so designed as to exclude predators.

New arrivals

All new animals must be kept in quarantine for 60-90 days for initial health screening tests. They can also be kept in isolation for as long as may be necessary to provide for its examination, acclimation and, if necessary, restoration to good health before being placed in the company of other animals.

Dead animals

Unless there are sound reasons not to do so, each animal which dies in captivity or during a release-to-the-wild program must have a post-mortem performed and a cause of death ascertained.

Provision must be made for the handling of a dead animal in a way that minimizes the risk of transmission of infection or disease.

Unless there is an arrangement for a dead animal to be quickly removed to veterinary facilities outside the premises, facilities must be provided on the premises for conducting a post-mortem examination in a safe and hygienic manner.

Provision must be made for material to be stored under refrigeration if an immediate post-mortem examination is not possible. The facilities provided for post-mortem examination must include an efficient drainage system, washable floors and walls, and an examination table.

Facilities for taking and preserving specimens should also be provided. Equipment used for storage of post-mortem material must not be used for any other purpose.

Unless the remains of a dead animal are to be used for scientific or educational purposes, or are offered to and accepted by an approved museum or other approved scientific establishment, they must be discarded off by incineration and if incineration is not possible, by any other method adopted on veterinary advice.

Preservation and display of dead animals

Dead specimens of endangered species should be properly preserved using professional taxidermy techniques and displayed to educate the public on the importance of wildlife and natural history

Contraception

Contraception may be used wherever there is a need for population management. The possible side effects of both surgical and chemical contraceptives, as well as the negative impact on behavior, should be considered before a final decision to implement contraception is made.

Mutilation

Mutilation of any animal for cosmetic purposes or to change the physical appearance of the animal is not acceptable. Pinioning of birds for educational or management purposes should only be undertaken when no other form of restraint is feasible. The marking of animals for identification should always be carried out under professional supervision in a way that minimizes suffering by the animal.

Euthanasia

Whenever it is necessary to euthanize an animal, care must be taken to ensure it is carried out in a way that ensures a quick death without suffering. Euthanasia may be controlled by local customs and laws but should always be used in preference to keeping an animal alive under conditions which do not allow it to experience an appropriate quality of life. Whenever possible a post-mortem examination should be performed and biological material preserved for research and gene conservation.

Acquisition of animals

All members will endeavor to ensure that the source of animals is confined to those born in captivity and is best achieved by direct zoo-to-zoo contact. This will not preclude the receipt of animals resulting from confiscation or rescues. It is recognized that there is a legitimate need for conservation breeding programs, education programs or basic biological studies which may result in obtaining animals from the wild. Members must be confident that such acquisitions will not have a deleterious effect upon the wild population.

Transfer of animals

Members will ensure that institutions receiving animals have appropriate facilities to hold the animals and skilled staff that are capable of maintaining the same high standard of husbandry and welfare as required by WZO members. All animals being transferred will be accompanied by appropriate records with details of health, reproductive and genetic status, with behavioral characteristics having been disclosed at the commencement of negotiations. Such records will allow receiving institutions to make appropriate decisions regarding the future management of the animal. All animal transfers should conform to the international standards applicable to the particular species. Where appropriate, animals should be accompanied by qualified staff.

Reintroduction

No release-to-the-wild program shall be undertaken without the animals having undergone a thorough veterinary examination to ascertain their fitness for such release. Following release, a thorough monitoring program should be established and maintained. The IUCN/SSC/Reintroduction Species Group guidelines for reintroduction should always be followed.