S.L. 439.29 Art. 7Dangerous animals.

(1) A dangerous animal shall be identified as listed in the Schedule to these regulations:

Provided that the Director may deem any animal to be a dangerous animal.

(2) If an animal is deemed to be a dangerous animal by the Director and such animal has not been listed in the Schedule, the Director may issue an emergency order which shall be published in the Gazette and which shall have immediate effect on its publication.

(3) An emergency order shall be valid for a period of six (6) months from its date of publication in the Gazette and shall have the same effect as if the dangerous animal were included in the Schedule. The said order shall cease to have any effect on the expiration of the aforesaid period unless the emergency order is renewed.

(4) Any dangerous animal in a zoo may be transferred to another licensed zoo if there is the Director’s prior written approval:

Provided that in cases of transfer or confiscation of dangerous animals, where the licence holder finds no other zoo able to house such an animal, the Director may seek the assistance of another licence holder, or confiscate that animal, or make any other arrangements as he may deem necessary, which arrangements shall observe the objectives stipulated in regulation 1(3).

(5) Interaction with animals by members of the public, excluding the licence holder or any staff member or contractor involved in the handling of animals, shall in no instance be permitted, unless such human interaction is allowed in accordance with the guidelines which may be issued by the Director from time to time:

Provided that when human interaction with animals is allowed, it shall at all times be supervised by the licence holder or the staff or contractor of the zoo and shall not include the feeding of dangerous animals:

Provided further that any allowable human interaction with dangerous animals shall be limited to dangerous animals bred in accordance with these regulations and where such human interaction does not compromise the welfare of the animal and, or is not deemed to be a danger to the health and safety to other animals.

(6) Where the licence holder does not follow the instructions and guidelines as issued by the Director with regard to human interaction, the licence holder may have his licence revoked.

(7) Any animal introduced in a licensed zoo shall have been captive-bred and all details listed in regulation 15(2) shall be made available upon request by the Director.