Private Zoos in the UK

[bugs]

This may sound like a stupid question but was is the definition of a private zoo? Is it a zoo that doesn't belong to any association or charity, or is it just a private collection kept by someone in their gaarden? Can a zoo that is open to the public still be classed as a private zoo?

On the subject of private zoos/cellections that are not open to the public. How many are there in the UK and what are the largest/rarest animals known to be kept in these collection, e.g. large cats ect.

Finally I read in an article that there is (or at least was) a polar bear kept in a private collection in the UK, surely this can't be the case.

Cheers,
Bugs

 

[Pygathrix]

Finally I read in an article that there is (or at least was) a polar bear kept in a private collection in the UK, surely this can't be the case.

This is true, it's Heythrop on Oxfordshire, home of Amazing Animals who supply trained animals for TV and films. They have one of the only two polar bears left in the UK (the other is is Edinburgh Zoo). They have open days occasionally, see this thread:

Heythrop Open Day » Heythrop Zoo » ZooChat

 

[taun]

A zoo license is required were a collection is open to the public for more than 5 or 7 days in the year. Cannot remember which amount it was.

 

[James27]

7 days I think, and private owners only need the DWA.

 

[bugs]

This is true, it's Heythrop on Oxfordshire, home of Amazing Animals who supply trained animals for TV and films. They have one of the only two polar bears left in the UK (the other is is Edinburgh Zoo). They have open days occasionally, see this thread:

Heythrop Open Day » Heythrop Zoo » ZooChat

WOW, I didn't know that this zoo/private collection exsisted. It seems a shame that they don't have more visitor/open days.

Bugs

 

[mark77]

A zoo license is required were a collection is open to the public for more than 5 or 7 days in the year. Cannot remember which amount it was.

As I understand it you can easily get an excemption to hold upto 120 animals without a zoo license and be open to the public. As long as the animals are not the main educational attraction. Hence small animal collections, bird of prey shows at castles,museums etc. not having to meet same standards of inspection.

 

[James27]

So zoos like Chessignton could get away with no zoo licence (if it had under 120 animals that is), as it's part of a theme park? It would obviously need a DWA licence though

 

[mark77]

thats how i understand it, if a theme park was an educational attraction! DWA restrictions would still apply as would the animal welfare act. Defra get most councils to provide a list of zoo licenced collections. See their website, often small animal collections not listed have an exemption rather than havent got one.

 

[James27]

Ah I missed the bit about it needing to be educational, sorry lol.

 

[Bwassa]

There was an episode of "A touch of Frost" on TV a couple of years ago, about animal smuggling which showed a zoo where David Jason was filmed in front of a polar bear enclosure. I was going mad because I didn't recognise the place and thought they must have filmed it on the continent. I now realise this was filmed at Heythrop.