Keeping of animals in zoo: minimum standards

The rapporteur, Sir James Scott-Hopkins (PPE, UK), insisted that zoos should recreate the natural biotope and provide a high level of environmental protection for the animals in their care. Parliament was opposed to zoos selling or transferring animals, even temporarily, to individuals, circuses or for experimental purposes. If a zoo closed down, the competent authority would have to ensure that the animals were sold or transferred to another licensed zoo or that they were humanely destroyed. Finally, the rapporteur called for at least one of the two experts responsible for carrying out inspections to be a veterinary surgeon. The European Parliament adopted the report as tabled by the Committee on the Environment, Public Health and Consumer Protection.�