Our Policies

We acquire and transfer out animals under our care through legal, ethical, sustainable, and humane practices:

• Most of our animals are born or hatched under human care, either in our parks or in other wildlife institutions
• Animals from external wildlife institutions come to our parks as part of exchanges, donations, breeding loans or as part of ex-situ managed breeding programs
• Ex-situ managed breeding programs refer to breeding programs that take place outside of the animal’s natural habitat
• Some of our animals may be selected for relocation to other institutions as part of global or regional ex situ population management strategies (i.e. Managed Breeding Programmes)
• A Managed Breeding Programme is where participating zoos ensure species’ population sustainability through coordinated breeding based on genetic compatibility
• Before any of our animals are transferred, the following due diligence is applied: 
  • We ensure the receiving institution possesses adequate knowledge and resources to provide for the animal’s quality of life and welfare
  • We review plans and photos of the animal’s intended living spaces and conduct onsite visits if necessary
  • We provide additional training for the receiving institution’s animal care staff if necessary
  • The receiving institution must care for and train our animals using ethical methods
• Some animals under our care include native species that were rescued and rehabilitated in our wildlife hospital
• These rescued native animals are only released back to the wild when they meet health requirements and have been deemed fit for release by our veterinary team
• All wildlife releases are approved and guided by the local wildlife authority -  the National Parks Board (NParks)

As part of efforts to responsibly manage animals under our care, animals are selected periodically for relocation to other wildlife institutions, either as part of a managed program or to manage population numbers.

Before any animal is relocated to a receiving party, we will conduct due diligence to ensure the institution meets the requisite standards of ethics, animal care and welfare. This includes possessing the adequate resources to ensure the safety and welfare of the animals, allowing us access to view plans, photographs or conduct onsite visits of the facilities the animals will be held in, and providing additional training for staff that will be involved in caring for the received animal.

The receiving party will also be held to providing ethical treatment such as
positive training reinforcement techniques for the animal. Preference will also be given to institutions that are accredited by at least one main international zoological association.

Animals that are relocated as part of an internationally managed program (i.e. breeding programs) must be approved by the designated species program coordinator prior to move.

In the cases of rescued native wildlife, only those that have been assessed by our veterinary team and the species working group to be fit for release will be considered for release in the wild.

All wildlife releases will be conducted with the permission of and in accordance with the regulations and guidelines set out by AVA and or NParks. 

We train our animals using best practice standards in animal welfare:

• We believe our animal programs and engagement sessions provide meaningful and memorable experiences that promote respect for wildlife and advocate behaviour change to save wildlife
• We commit to training all animals under our care using positive reinforcement training methods
• All of our animal programs and engagement sessions are guided by the following principles:
  • We present our animals in a respectful manner
  • We highlight and promote natural behaviours
  • We share information about the animals that help guests appreciate and respect them
  • We share information on threatened species and our efforts to save them
  • We empower guests to conserve animals by taking practical actions
  • We provide a safe environment for our animals and guests to have meaningful close encounters 

We prioritise animal welfare and regularly evaluate our animals using science-based methods: 

• We are guided by our animal welfare code that is based on global best practices incorporating the ‘Five Domains’ Model to ensure the animals thrive under our care
• The ‘Five Domains’ Model is a science-based framework for assessing animal welfare
• The five domains consist of the following:
  • Nutrition: Providing our animals with adequate nutrition according to their needs
  • Environment: Providing our animals with dynamic environments that meet or exceed international standards for the species under human care
  • Physical health: Ensuring our animals stay in optimal health with professional animal carers and wildlife veterinary care
  • Behaviour: Ensuring our animals are able to express a wide range of species-specific natural behaviours
  • Mental: Meeting the requirements for the four domains above results in a positive mental state for the animals  

The illegal wildlife trade is driving species to extinction. As an organisation dedicated to the protection of wildlife and their habitats, we do not endorse illegal, unsustainable, or unethical use and trade of wild animal and plant products.

We commit to:

• Encourage the use of products not harmful to threatened species
  
• Educate the public about illegal wildlife trade
  
• Engage our partners towards reducing illegal wildlife trade
• Keep records on use of wild animal and plant products
• NOT buy, use, sell, or serve products from wild animal species
• Buy, use, sell or serve only certified sustainable wild plant products