Zoos and aquariums are adapting to new measures introduced in July by the Ministry of Agriculture that activists say lack clarity despite representing a step toward banning live shows of protected marine wildlife and terrestrial animals.
The ministry amended measures on animal show management in accordance with the Animal Protection Act (動物保護法) and announced the implementation of the new regulations on July 29 this year.
The new regulations stipulate that additional information about animal exhibitions and shows must be provided to the authorities in advance for permits to be granted. Businesses must now submit information about the exhibition space where animals are displayed, perform or interact with people as well as the places where the animals are kept.
Photo courtesy of Tsai Wei-lin via CNA
The new measures were introduced after animal protection groups criticized Leofoo Village Theme Park in 2022 for allowing visitors to feed ferocious animals such as lions and tigers, saying the park was exploiting protected animals for profit.
On Sept. 26 of the same year, the ministry said that displays of land-based protected wild animals must not involve them in “inappropriate” performances or interactions with people, marking a step toward restricting shows of captive wildlife.
Animal houses must apply for performance or exhibition permits, meaning that the content of exhibitions or shows must be formally approved before their exhibitions or shows can be staged, Department of Animal Welfare deputy director Chen Chung-hsin (陳中興) said.
Two ocean parks in Taiwan are still allowed to hold dolphin shows, but their permits are set to expire in 2026, Chen said, adding that they can file an application for an extension before the expiry of their current permits.
However, some activists say that there is some confusion over the scope of the new regulations and how they interact with other regulations governing animal shows.
While there are stipulations governing the exhibitions of land-based protected wild animals and a ban on animal performances and their interactions with humans, the Ocean Conservation Administration (OCA) has not provided a letter of explanation on its regulations governing such matters, PETA Asia member Sera Lim (林婷憶) said.
She said the ministry’s new regulations is tantamount to announcing that domestic cetacean shows — performances of marine mammals — should come to an end as all cetaceans are protected animals under the Wildlife Conservation Act (野生動物保育法).
Unlike in other countries, the new rules do not directly stipulate the prohibition of exhibitions and shows of protected wild animals, Lim added.
This contrasts with laws in many countries that have already outlawed captive animal performances.
Thirteen countries — Bolivia, Canada, Chile, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Hungary, India, Kazakhstan, Nicaragua, Slovenia and Switzerland — no longer allow the displays of cetaceans in captivity for entertainment purposes, Kuroshio Ocean Education Foundation Director Tsai Wei-li (蔡偉立) said.
Although Canada and France have captive cetaceans for non-entertainment purposes, their numbers are dwindling. Tsai said, adding that the UK once had 30 facilities that kept cetaceans, but all had ceased operations by 1993.
OCA Deputy Director-General Wu Long-jing (吳龍靜) said they have established a team composed of central and local government officials, experts and animal protection advocates to guide the transformation of protected cetacean shows.
If zoos and aquariums fail to adjust their operations in line with the new regulations, they might have their permits revoked or face punishments according to the Animal Protection Act, Wu said.
Businesses are supported to hold shows of captive wild animals if they meet three criteria, namely, the displays must reflect the wild animals’ natural behavior, have educational significance, and promote an “emotional connection” between the animals and humans, he said.
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