Preventing a Second 'Galbisaja'... Zoo and Aquarium Registration System to Permit System

Amendment to the Enforcement Decrees of the Zoo and Aquarium Act and the Wildlife Act

The registration system for zoos and aquariums will be changed to a licensing system. To be recognized as a zoo or aquarium, certain standards must be met, such as having a minimum scale of animals and facilities.

On the 5th, the Ministry of Environment announced that the amendment to the Enforcement Decrees of the Zoo and Aquarium Act and the Wildlife Act, which strengthens animal welfare and wildlife management, was approved at the Cabinet meeting. The amendment will take effect from the 14th.

To be recognized as a zoo or aquarium, a certain scale of animals and facilities must be maintained, and animal exhibition businesses cannot be operated in places that are not zoos or aquariums.

However, facilities that only keep livestock or trade companion animals are not considered zoos, so they do not need to obtain a license under the zoo licensing system. The same applies to cases where wild animals are exhibited for sale.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Even zoos and aquariums must provide clean and sufficient water and food, and create an environment similar to the animals' natural habitat while considering their behaviors in order to obtain an operating license.

They must also have professional personnel such as veterinarians and keepers, and establish plans for disease and safety management of the animals, as well as animal management plans for periods of closure or suspension.

Operators who exhibited animals in places other than zoos or aquariums will be granted a grace period of four years until December 13, 2027, and those already registered as zoos or aquariums but who do not meet the licensing requirements will be given a five-year grace period until December 13, 2028.

During the grace period, acts that cause excessive stress to wild animals, such as touching or riding them, are prohibited. Violations will result in fines ranging from 1.5 million to 5 million KRW depending on the number of offenses.

The amendment also requires the Ministry of Environment to investigate and publicly announce the operation status of zoos, habitat conditions, animal welfare status, and safety and disease management every five years.

The Ministry of Environment may appoint up to 40 inspectors to conduct on-site inspections to verify whether the zoo licensing requirements are met.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.