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A raccoon on display at a wild animal cafe in Seoul. Reporter Chun Kwon-pil
The exhibition of wild animals is completely prohibited in facilities smaller than the zoo, such as a wild animal cafe. There will be no future portable wild animal exhibits where the animals can be brought to kindergarten and experienced.
The Ministry of the Environment announced on the 23rd that it will establish the ‘1st Comprehensive Zoo Management Plan (2021-2025)’ which contains the systematic management of 110 zoos nationwide and will be implemented from January 1 of next year. This comprehensive plan is in accordance with the ‘Law of Management of Zoos and Aquariums (Law of Zoos and Aquariums)’ and is the first statutory plan developed for the proper management of zoos and aquariums.
The core of this comprehensive plan is to change the current zoo registration system to a permit system by revising the ‘Zoological Aquarium Law’ over the next year. When the permit system is introduced, the types of wild animals that can be exhibited will be limited based on the breeding environment, such as allowing wild animals to be kept only in zoos equipped with outdoor radiant fields starting in 2022. Until now There are no specific standards for animal habitats, so predators like tigers and lions can be exhibited indoors. In fact, as of December last year, 7 tigers and 11 lions are being raised indoors.
From now on, standards for breeding environments, such as appropriate area and radiation length, will be determined specifically for each animal species. In addition, by introducing specialized inspectors, the inspectors directly inspect whether the species and the breeding facilities they claim to possess are appropriate.
All wild animal cafes are prohibited … Pet displays are allowed
People touch animals at a wild animal cafe in Seoul. Aware and Humainbet provided
The Environment Ministry also decided to completely ban zoo-sized exhibits, such as a wild animal café, due to concerns about a common infectious disease caused by a new coronavirus infection (Corona 19). An amendment to the ‘Zoological Aquariums Law’ with related content has been proposed to the National Assembly.
The Wild Animal Café is a facility that showcases wild animals such as raccoons, meerkats, and reptiles and allows people to touch them. As of May, 47 locations are operating across the country. However, it is allowed to exhibit companion animals (dogs, cats, rabbits, etc.) or livestock (peacocks, canaries, etc.) in a place registered as an animal exhibition business.
The Ministry of the Environment decided to know the exact status of wild animals exhibited in unregistered facilities such as zoos and aquariums throughout the country until June next year, and also to verify the status of acquisition of internationally endangered species exhibited in animal cafes. wild.
Animal experiences, such as feeding and touch, are also highly restricted to improve animal welfare. In particular, it is forbidden to display portable wild animals in kindergartens, etc.
Park Yeon-jae, Nature Conservation Policy Officer at the Ministry of the Environment, said: “With this comprehensive plan, an opportunity has been prepared to improve the welfare of exposed animals and the habitat environment.” Said.
Reporter Chun Kwon-pil [email protected]
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