Animal Keeper's Association of Africa

PROFESSIONAL CODE OF ETHICS  OF THE  AFRICAN ASSOCIATION  OF ZOOS AND AQUARIA

Amended June 2003
Amended March 2004
Amended June 2007

1. PREAMBLE

1.1 Members of PAAZAB recognise the need to establish and implement a CODE OF ETHICS to regulate and improve the professional standards under which they operate. They recognise that any Member who fails to strive to meet, or ignores, or knowingly contravenes this code not only places their membership of PAAZAB or accreditation status in jeopardy, but will also bring disrepute upon the profession and the community of PAAZAB as contemplated in clause 17.1.3.1 and 17.1.3.5 of the PAAZAB Constitution. (amended March 2004)

1.2 In order to implement this code effectively within their own institutions, it is recommended that Members establish and maintain their own in-house "Ethics Committee". Such a committee can be small (e.g 2-5 members), ideally but not necessarily should comprise at least one non-staff outside expert, and could serve for other purposes (e.g as a Research Committee - see 5.2) as well.

1.3 The "WORLD ZOO CONSERVATION STRATEGY" (WZCS) of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) sets forth the fundamental aims and objects of ex situ management within the WAZA community. Therefore, PAAZAB recommends that its Members also apply the WZCS in respect of the management and deployment of their collections.


2. TRADE IN AND MOVEMENT OF ANIMALS AND PLANTS

2.1 All trade in fauna and flora (including import and export) must conform to international conventions and agreements, and to national and local ordinances. No animals or plants should be dispatched until the receiving party has confirmed that it is in possession of all necessary documentation to take delivery.

2.2 Members agree to subscribe to all relevant international conventions and agreements, to national and local ordinances, regarding the disposal, acquisition, transport, and re-location of animals and plants.

2.3 No member shall be party to deliberate misinformation, or the withholding of information, in order to promote and/or confirm trade in or movement of animals and plants, or to obtain the necessary permits for such actions.  

2.4 Members agree not to knowingly trade in, donate, or otherwise transfer animals for the purpose of painful or distressing research.  

2.5 Members agree to abide by local or national legislation in respect of the supply of exotic species for release on private land. Where this practice is legal, Members agree to responsibly consider all implications of this practice in terms of the conservation and preservation of native fauna and flora.

3. ANIMAL HUSBANDRY

3.1  Members agree to the highest possible standards of animal husbandry, veterinary care, and housing for their animals so as to ensure the application of the principle of the five freedoms of animal welfare listed as follows:   

• Freedom from hunger and thirst by ready access to fresh water and  a diet to maintain full health and vigour;  

• Freedom from thermal and physical discomfort by providing an appropriate environment including shelter and a comfortable resting area;  

• Freedom from injury, disease and pain by prevention or rapid diagnosis and treatment;  

• Freedom to express most normal patterns of behaviour by providing sufficient space, proper facilities and company of the animal's own kind, where applicable;  

• Freedom from fear and distress by ensuring conditions and treatment that avoid suffering.   

• Where local or national legislation on these matters exists, Members agree to conform to such legislation.  

3.2 Members agree to make every effort to maintain the biological and genetic integrity of the taxa in their collection.

3.3 Members agree not to inflict any form of undue and unnecessary pain and/or stress on animals in the collection.

4. RESEARCH

4.1 The very special opportunities for ethical, research that Member institutions offer to science are recognized. Members are encouraged to promote these opportunities, and, where possible, to establish their own in-house "Research Committees" to oversee such aspects as quality, value
and progress of research (amended March 2004).

4.2 Members agree to submit research proposals to their in-house, or regional ethics committee for approval prior to the commencement of such research and to submit progress reports as required.


5. CONSERVATION BREEDING PROGRAMMES


5.1 Where Members are able to participate in the ex situ breeding of species, for the purpose of release back into the wild, they should do so in partnership with local, national, or international wildlife or habitat/ecosystem conservation authorities or in accordance with the IUCN’s
Reintroduction Guidelines.

5.2 Members acknowledge the validity of formalized zoo-based co-operative and coordinated conservation breeding programmes, including but not limited to, the African Preservation Programme (APP) run under the auspices of PAAZAB.

5.3 Members agree to furnish all relevant information in a timely manner when requested to do so by the duly appointed coordinator(s) of such programmes.


6. ADVERTISING AND FILM MAKING

6.1 When Members are able to allow the use of their animal collections for the making of advertisements and films/videos, it is recommended that they proceed according to the following minimum requirements:

- Proceed on a pre-concluded contractual basis, wherein the animal’s owner or keeper is present throughout and has absolute control over the deployment of the animal(s) on set, and can prevent or terminate undue stressing of the animal(s);  

- Where possible, members of the institutions own Ethics Committee should be present as impartial observers.

7. ANIMAL TRADE (amended June 2003)

PAAZAB accepts that breeding species may be critical to the well being and survival of identified taxa, if bred in strict accordance with clause 3.2.

Furthermore PAAZAB accepts that animals may from time to time be made available to institutions with similar ethics, or as may be directed by a valid permit issued by a relevant permitting authority, if required, to enhance the genetic profile of the species through breeding, or to extend a conservation message, which will be to the ultimate benefit of such species.

PAAZAB accepts that in such circumstances monetary compensation may be received, and that under these circumstances the compensation is ethical.

7.1 Pet Trade

PAAZAB may determine from time to time that the keeping of certain species of wild animals as pets is unacceptable.


8. TROPHY HUNTING

Members agree not to breed, supply or sell animals for the purpose of "canned" trophy hunting. In terms of this Code, herein defined as: the practice of restraining or doping animals to be hunted.

9. RECORDS AND INVENTORIES

9.1 In the interests of good management and husbandry, all Members agree to maintain well-kept and pertinent records of the specimens they are holding in their collections.

9.2 When specimens are sold, transferred or exchanged, Members agree to supply the receiver with full correct and pertinent information about the specimen(s), from in-house records.

9.3 Members agree to annually provide full correct and complete information about their collections to the coordinators(s) of the PAAZAB holding inventory (ies).


10. EUTHANASIA

10.1 Members agree that euthanasia is a management option, but the implementation thereof is subject to review by its in-house ethics committee.

11. CONTACT ANIMALS (amended June 2007)

11.1 Contact animals are defined as “all animals that are used within or outside their normal exhibit or holding areas and where human interaction/contact with the animals is intended to occur”.

PAAZAB acknowledges that there are significant benefits to the use of contact animals.   
However, the use of any contact animal comes with a host of responsibilities including the welfare of the animals used, the safety of the animal handlers and public, and accountability for the take-home messages received by the audience.  Therefore, PAAZAB requires all member institutions that use contact animals to:

11.1.1 Develop an Institutional Contact Animal Policy compliant with the requirements of the South African National Code of Zoo and Aquarium Practice, SANS 10379, which clearly identifies and justifies those species/individuals approved as contact animals, and details their long-term management plan and educational programme objectives  

11.1.2 Acknowledge the legal ramifications and responsibilities associated with the use of contact animals. This recognition should be evident by means of an operational declaration made by the highest governing authority of the institution to this effect.

11.1.3 Ensure that the participating public is appropriately advised of the relevant indemnities associated with the use of contact animals.

12. APPLICATION AND ENFORCEMENT OF THIS CODE

12.1 PAAZAB will maintain a portfolio of Ethics on its Executive Committee, the holder of which will serve as the chairman. The chairman will appoint appropriate specialists to the committee, which shall comprise a minimum of 3 (three) members. (amended March 2004)  In the event it proves essential to the professional conduct of the Ethics Committee that another appropriate person(s) be co-opted onto the Committee for a particular investigation, the PAAZAB Executive Committee may consider such proposal(s) by the Ethics Committee.

12.2 When convened, this Committee will serve as an investigative body in respect of alleged Contraventions of this Code by Members of PAAZAB.  

12.3 The PAAZAB Executive Committee will be responsible for activating the Ethics Committee, until such time as an alternative mechanism is evolved. Issues considered deserving of investigation under the terms of this Code should be submitted in writing with all supporting documentation to the PAAZAB Executive Committee, which shall decide whether such an issue is deserving of the attention of the Ethics Committee.

12.4 The Ethics Committee, when convened at the request of the PAAZAB Executive Committee, will investigate the matter and submit a report to the Executive Committee detailing its findings and recommendations. The Executive Committee will examine the report, and decide whether or not the member is in contravention of this code by majority vote.  

12.5 All proceedings and documentation of this committee will be confidential, with the exception of the contents of media releases approved by the Executive Committee.  

12.6 The PAAZAB Executive Committee may, at its discretion, make available the Ethics Committee’s documentation and to local, national or international wildlife, conservation or relevant law enforcement authorities.

13. CHANGES TO THIS CODE

13.1 Changes to this CODE OF ETHICS may be brought about by a two-thirds majority approval of by  present Institutional Members at an Annual General Meeting of PAAZAB.  

13.2 Proposals for changes shall be submitted in writing to the PAAZAB Executive Director for inclusion in the documentation for an Annual General Meeting of PAAZAB. Proposals for changes may be made and seconded only by Institutional Members, and must be received by the Executive Director not less than forty (40) days prior to the AGM. (amended March 2004).

 

For the official PDF document of the Professional Code of Ethics of PAAZAB, please click here to download.