Jardine Urges DEFRA To Cut Red Tape for Zoos 

Edinburgh West MP Christine Jardine has urged DEFRA to act “without delay” to remove bureaucratic barriers preventing endangered animals being transferred to and from Edinburgh Zoo — delays she warned could cost species their chance of survival.

This follows months of stalled transfers of rare species such as red pandas, lemurs and amphibians, which the Zoo says are being held up by slow post-Brexit paperwork.

Jardine has written to DEFRA to press for a fast-track route for transfers between accredited zoological institutions, warning that without reform the UK could be excluded from global breeding networks.

Christine Jardine MP said:

“Endless delays are threatening the existence of certain species. It is not good enough — DEFRA must act now.

“Without urgent action, we risk undoing years of conservation work and shutting the UK out of global breeding efforts.”

Her letter is as follows:

Dear Baroness Hayman,

Re: Restrictions on the import of hooved animals and impact on Edinburgh Zoo

I am writing on behalf of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, which is based in my constituency, to express concern about the current restrictions imposed by DEFRA and the Animal and Plant Health Agency on the movement of hooved animals into the UK.

While the Zoo fully supports robust biosecurity measures, the post-Brexit regime appears to have created a situation that is now “practically impossible” for accredited institutions to navigate. As you will be aware, the mandatory requirement for a 30-day quarantine in a “vector-protected” facility, without clear guidance on what constitutes such a facility, has left zoos unable to plan effectively or meet conservation commitments.

Edinburgh Zoo’s successful transfer of its male Indian one-horned rhino, Qabid, to the Netherlands has been followed by significant uncertainty over the arrival of two replacements from Ireland and Hungary. This delay jeopardises not only the Zoo’s conservation breeding programme for a vulnerable species, but also wider European collaboration under EAZA (the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria).

One practical solution could be a vaccination arrangement for zoos and other confined establishments. This would uphold necessary disease controls while allowing responsible institutions to continue their essential work in species conservation and research. I would appreciate if the Government could review the situation to see what support can be undertaken to improve this situation.

Yours sincerely,

Christine Jardine MP