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UK Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (c.37): Licensing, Conservation Measures and Inspection of Zoos

The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (c. 37) requires the licensing of zoos in Great Britain by local authorities, mandates conservation and welfare measures, and…

What UK Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (c.37): Licensing, Conservation Measures and Inspection of Zoos requires

The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (c. 37) requires the licensing of zoos in Great Britain by local authorities, mandates conservation and welfare measures, and provides for inspection and closure, administered by local authorities with the advice of appointed inspectors. Section 1 requires that no person operate a zoo, defined as an establishment where wild animals are kept for exhibition to the public, except under the authority of a licence granted by the local authority. Section 1A requires the implementation of conservation measures, including participating in conservation programmes, promoting public education and awareness, and providing accommodation that meets the animals' biological and conservation needs. Section 2 governs the application for a licence and section 4 governs the grant or refusal of a licence, including the considerations of public health and safety and animal welfare. Section 10 provides for periodical inspections of licensed zoos and section 11 provides for special inspections. Section 16B provides for a zoo closure direction where a licence is revoked or refused, requiring the proper disposal of the animals, and section 16C provides for closure directions for zoos operating without a licence. Section 19 sets out the offences and penalties, including operating a zoo without a licence. The Act is the foundational zoo licensing, conservation, and welfare regime.

Pillar: Water & Environmental Resources · Authority: UK Parliament / Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) · Version: 1.0.0 · Last updated:

Primary source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1981/37/contents

SHA-256 integrity: 468bcc887ac02721e4e275953d686f1f55f716cef9865bf2be0c853a13dfba05

Primary Citations — 8 traced to source

  • Zoo Licensing Act 1981, section 1 - licensing of zoos by local authorities.
  • Zoo Licensing Act 1981, section 1A - conservation measures for zoos.

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