Zoos will be required to give animals more enclosure space as "long overdue" welfare reforms, modernising British zoo practices for the first time in over a decade.
The Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs said the new standards published on Saturday would better protect species ranging from the snowy owl to octopuses.
The changes will see elephants given larger habitats and bring an end to practices like the long-term tethering of birds of prey. They will also stop practices such as letting visitors touch fish and cephalopods including rays and octopuses.
Animal welfare minister Baroness Hayman said the move was the “first step” in the Government’s plan to deliver the “most ambitious welfare reforms in a generation”.
ITV News’ Olivia Guthrie has the full story.
• Subscribe to ITV News on YouTube: http://bit.ly/2lOHmNj
• Get breaking news and more stories at http://www.itv.com/news
Follow ITV News on TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@itvnews?lang=en
Follow ITV News on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itvnews/
Follow ITV News on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/itvnews/
Follow ITV News on X: https://twitter.com/itvnews
