B152 - Endangered Animals Rights Act 2017

"That Dáil Éireann:

Noting:

109 mammals and reptiles have died at the Dublin zoo over 24 months.

Deaths rose from 8.72% in 2014 to 13.4% in 2015.

A zoo in Cumbria, England, was refused a new licence after 486 of its animals died during a four-year period, representing an annual death rate of 12%.

In 2014, two African hunting dogs were in Dublin on loan from another zoo. These are endangered with a population of around 6,000 left in the world. Both dogs died at Dublin Zoo.

In 2015 the Dublin zoo lost two Rothschild Giraffes, one of the rarest species of Giraffe with an estimated 1,500 in the wild.

Three scimitar-horned oryxes, a species of antelope that has been extinct in the wild for almost 20 years, died at the zoo during the 24-month period.

Three Humboldt penguins - considered ""vulnerable"" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) - died in 2015. There are fewer than 12,000 of the penguins left in the wild.

Three red-tipped mangabeys - a red-list endangered species of monkey - died at the zoo during the same year; while an African spurred tortoise also perished.

Further deaths include a white rhinoceros, three grey wolves and, worst of all, a red panda.

68 of the deaths in 2015 included 7 loaned from other zoos, and the study does not include deaths in transit.

Captive bred species almost never get successfully released.

When ZSL London Zoo spent £5.3 million on a new gorilla enclosure, the chief consultant to the UN Great Apes Survival Partnership said ""Five million pounds for three gorillas when national parks are seeing that number killed every day for want of some Land Rovers and trained men and anti-poaching patrols.""

Animals in zoos often go insane from the frustration of their diminished existence.

In the wild, gorillas don’t eat their own vomit and pull out their hair in frustration. Free polar bears don’t pace back and forth constantly on concrete. Captive animals’ typical forms of neurotic behaviour – such as bar-biting, self-mutilation, pacing, and rocking – are unheard of among their wild relatives. Just as we wouldn’t go to a prison to learn about typical human society, it makes no sense to observe imprisoned animals in order to learn about them.

Be it enacted by the Oireachtas as follows:

Zoos and aquariums of Ireland are to be publicly owned, regulated and subject to international inspection.

An immediate moratorium on guest animals to and from all Irish zoos and aquariums.

An immediate closure to the public of any Irish zoo containing endangered animals until assessed by new standards.

Present funding of all zoos and aquariums containing endangered animals immediately assessed to assuring their well-being.

No zoo may operate with an annual death rate of mammals and reptiles over 5%

No zoo or aquarium may acquire endangered animals.

Any operating zoo or aquarium will have 80% of its operating costs matched in contributions to conservation efforts.

Conservation contributions will favour efforts involving the Irish Defense Forces.

Foreign Affairs will research further opportunities to engage Irish Defense Forces in vulnerable conservation environments and annually report on results and potential expansion for a period of 10 years.

Title and Commencement

This bill may be cited as Zoo Station, 2017.

This bill shall come into force upon it's passage through the Oireachtas."

This bill was submitted by /u/Fiachaire on behalf of the Workers Party This reading will end on Monday the 16th of April 2018