Born Free Foundation - Keep Wildlife in the Wild

Born Free Foundation welcomes the news that the European Commission intends to develop a guidance and best practice document to support the implementation of the EC Zoos Directive (1999/22). This will not only assist all Member State Competent Authorities to comply with the requirements of the Directive, and subsequent national law, but further, to improve the conditions for animals in zoos across Europe. This is an amazing outcome of The EU Zoo Inquiry 2011 project.

Whilst the Born Free Foundation continues to produce national reports evaluating the implementation and enforcement of the European Zoos Directive (no.1999/22), meetings are underway and partnerships are being developed that will seek to effectively address key findings of the investigations. Not content with simply initiating the most extensive review of zoo regulation in the EU to date, Born Free is keen to identify the reasons behind non-compliance and poor conditions, and seek viable solutions that ultimately improve the lives of the millions of animals in Europe’s zoos.

Thanks to the interest and support of the European Commission, European Parliament, Member State Competent Authorities and other interested parities, constructive dialogue is resulting in training opportunities, guidance and actions to improve conditions for wild animals in zoos, prevent their suffering and neglect and, for those zoos that cannot ensure the welfare of the animals they keep, compassionate and appropriate solutions for their closure.

Find out more about this Project and how you can help