Zoo licence

We carry out three different types of inspection for zoo licences:

• periodic
• special
• informal

Periodic inspections

We undertake periodic inspections after we have granted you a licence.

We will discuss the inspection with you and give you 28 day’s notice of when we will carry it out.

For new licences we carry out:

• the first inspection during the first year
• the second inspection no later than six months before the end of the fourth year

For renewed licences or a new licence for the  holder of an existing licence, we carry out:

• the first inspection during the third year
• the second inspection no later than six months before the end of sixth year

Special inspections

We will carry out a  special inspection if we think it necessary because of:

• a periodical report
• any representations made to us or a properly constituted body concerned with any aspect of the zoo management or its animal welfare
• an informal inspection
• any other circumstances which call for an investigation

Informal inspections

We carry out informal inspection once in any calendar year where we haven't carried out any other inspection.