JUDGING WELFARE IN ZOOS
Born Free, the animal welfare and wildlife conservation group, has come under fire from the body that represents British zoos and aquariums, over its report into wild animal welfare in the UK. In the ‘Beyond the Bars’ report, published in the wake of 486 animals dying over four years at South Lakes Safari Zoo, Born Free has called for, among other things, the creation of an independent zoo inspectorate. But the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariams (BIAZA) says Born Free is aiming “to position itself as such an inspectorate” and it “couldn't in any way constitute an objective or even qualified panel to judge welfare, housing and other standards.”