S.L. 439.29 Art. 5Enclosures.

(1) All animals kept in accordance with these regulations shall be kept in an adequate and safe enclosure that respects the specific and individual animals’ physiological, psychological, conservational, and behavioural requirements. In particular, the enclosures shall be suitable with respect to:

(a) adequate space for movement, exercise, resting and for the animal to exhibit his normal behavioural patterns. The size of the enclosures shall be related to the species of animals it houses and according to guidelines that may be issued by the Director in the Gazette by means of a Government Notice which may be reviewed at any time at his discretion;

(b) hygiene;

(c) comfort and well-being;

(d) lighting levels;

(e) climatic conditions;

(f) appropriate enrichment measures and facilities, according to the animal’s needs and social behaviour;

(g) affording susceptible animals’ protection from direct public gaze;

(h) preventing the public from having direct contact with animals listed in the Schedule;

(i) controlling of the feeding of the animals by the public.

(2) The enclosure shall be regularly maintained and updated according to species specific requirements as may be determined from time to time by the Director.

(3) The enclosure housing the animals shall be built of sturdy and durable material in a manner that limits the possibility of harm to any animal within them as well as the possibility of escape.

(4) Only staff authorised by the licence holder and those persons notified to the Director shall have access to the enclosure.

(5) Zoos which house the animals listed in the Schedule shall devise written measures for the prevention and recovery of escapees. Staff shall also be trained in evacuation of the public in emergency situations:

Provided that in the event where a dangerous animal escapes from the zoo, such events shall be reported by the licence holder to the Director without delay and by not later than twenty-four

(24) hours from the escape:

Provided further that the respective competent authorities responsible for public safety shall be notified as soon as the dangerous animal escapes.

(6) The enclosure may, depending on the animal being or intended to be housed within them, be required by the Director to:

(a) have an ante-room with a double door system that cannot be opened simultaneously with a separate door made of material which is strong and durable whereby each door shall be easily lockable for the animal’s custodian to lock and unlock it with ease;

(b) have animal proof locks;

(c) comprise an animal restraining system as required to access the enclosure for feeding, cleaning, the administration of medication or otherwise.

(7) The enclosure shall be monitored by closed circuit television systems (CCTV) for twenty-four (24) hours a day, seven (7) days a week with recordings for the previous five (5) days remaining available and accessible upon request by the Director in a manner consistent with the requirement to ascertain the health conditions and behaviour of the animal.

(8) The enclosure shall have sufficient and appropriate lighting to be used only for verifying the well-being of the animals.

(9) The construction, expansion and, or substantial modification of an animal enclosure shall be notified by the licence holder to the Director at least one (1) month in advance.

(10) The animal enclosure shall be inspected and approved by the Director who shall, in particular, ascertain its appropriateness with regard to conditions as stipulated in this regulation.

(11) An animal kept in accordance with these regulations shall not be housed in a different enclosure other than that intended for its housing, except where it is deemed necessary and with the prior written approval of the Director:

Provided that in cases of emergencies, a dangerous animal may be relocated, as long as the safety of the public and of the animal is not compromised, and the licence holder shall inform the Director within twenty-four (24) hours from relocation:

Provided further that where maintenance of an enclosure or veterinary care of an animal is required, except for dangerous animals, the licence holder need not obtain the approval of the Director to relocate the animal in question to another suitable and appropriate enclosure in the same zoo, and such maintenance shall not take more than one (1) week to be finalised from the date when the animal is housed in another enclosure.

(12) Signage related to the safety of the area shall be prominently displayed near each enclosure, especially in areas where direct contact with the animals takes place. The Director may at his discretion, issue rules on the content of these signs by means of a Government Notice published in the Gazette.