Zoo Insurance Bond

Bristol Zoo’s Wild Place Bear Wood exhibit cost £5m, over seven times Bristol Zoological Society’s contribution to conservation and research in 2019 (including external grants).

Zoo Insurance Bond

The welfare of animals held in captivity is paramount. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the financial short-sightedness of zoos and the zoo industry as a whole, and the need for the Zoo Licensing Act to be reformed with the requirement for licensed zoos to undergo regular financial assessments and contribute towards an industry-wide Zoo Insurance Bond.

The Zoo Licensing Act 1981 is now 40 years old and long-overdue a substantial review. One area in need of reform relates to the financial stability of zoos. There have been numerous stories since the pandemic began of zoos potentially closing or considering/initiating insolvency proceedings, raising the spectre of animals being euthanised.7,59-63 As of May 2021, five UK zoos have announced their closure since the COVID-19 pandemic began.12 Meanwhile animals must necessarily remain under the care of these institutions, at least until suitable arrangements for them can be made. Even pre-pandemic the operation of a zoo was a costly long-term commitment. Despite this, the zoos within this study had an average of just 2.7 months financial reserves to cover temporary closure. Shockingly, one zoo had as low as one month of financial reserves in place. In view of this, regular financial assessments should be incorporated into the licensing and inspection process. Similar procedures are already in place in other regions of the world; accredited members of the Australasian Zoo & Aquarium Association (ZAA) must provide evidence within their accreditation application and subsequent inspections that they have the financial resources available to care for and rehome their animal collection in the event of closure.64 Currently, if a zoo closes within the UK, it is the local Licensing Authority, and taxpayers, rather than the zoo itself, who foot the bill for the ongoing care of animals until they are rehomed or, if faced with no alternative, euthanised.32 Unlike other entertainment attractions, the costs of caring for the animals onsite and paying the staff responsible for their care will continue long after a zoo closes. Therefore, contributing to a Zoo Insurance Bond should be a key requirement within a revised Zoo Licensing Act.