Brussels, 01/06/2011 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 25 May, the Born Free Foundation, in association with the European coalition, ENDCAP, launched new country reports illustrating that the zoos in France, Austria, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania do not respect the elementary criteria established by the EU Council directive (1999/22). This directive governs the conditions determining the keeping of wild animals in a zoological environment and has been in application since 2005. It establishes a series of measures that ought to be applied in zoos in the majority of EU states as a means of ensuring that conditions respond to the specific needs of wild animals in captivity. Daniel Turner, spokesperson for The EU Zoo Inquiry (which contains a 21-report series) explained: “The regulation of zoos and the protection of wild animals in captivity falls to the responsibility of member states and is dependent upon the will, knowledge, experience and available resources of each member state. This has resulted in enormous variation in the standards delivered.” During the presentation of the most recent reports, Turner affirmed that “investigations have confirmed that zoos across the European Community are not meeting their obligations as required by European and national law”. Criticism was mainly directed at the fact that: - many zoos are substandard and keep their animals in inadequate conditions; - European zoos are failing in their obligation to conserve biodiversity; - competent authorities in the majority of member states do not have sufficient knowledge and expertise to apply the requirements applicable to zoos and other animal protection law; - few veterinarians have the knowledge and training on captive wild animal welfare despite being required to undertake assessments in such welfare. Turner explained that “the European Commission, which is ultimately responsible for the implementation and enforcement of the EC Zoos Directive 1999/22, must do more to assist and support member states in their endeavours to ensure the zoos comply with their legal requirements”. The president of the Born Free Foundation, Will Travers, came to the same conclusions: “To date, wild animals in captivity have been largely marginalised.” He is therefore hoping that these reports will have a positive impact on the development of the European strategy for animal protection and welfare, “so we can ensure EU member states have the right tools to complete the job they are expected to do”. (J.K./transl.fl)