Facility assessment

A facility assessment is an evaluation of the suitability of a facility to meet the behavioral and biological needs of a specific species. A facility assessment is required before a permit can be issued for live mammals, reptiles, amphibians and birds. A facility assessment is usually valid for 5 years.

It seeks information on the size, type and qualities of the exhibit, as well as diet, staff experience, husbandry, welfare standards and how behavioral enrichment will be addressed. The information you provide on a proposed facility will be assessed by the Department against relevant standards and codes, husbandry manuals, literature, websites, and/or export advice. These information sources are available through Australasian and overseas zoological association websites and elsewhere.

Please note the following requirements when completing your application:

  • It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide the information as requested, and in the format requested (e.g., maps, photographs, diagrams, measurement in metric units only).
  • Provide your information in Word document format or PDF (scanned documents not encouraged). Where possible, consolidate photos into single document or insert alongside text in facility assessment.
  • Responses to all questions are mandatory (the inclusion of ‘N/A’ may be included where relevant).
  • The provision of incomplete or insufficient information may result in a determination that the facility is inadequate in meeting the needs of the animal.

Facility assessment criteria

To have your facility assessed please provide the following information as an attachment to your permit application:

  1. Security
    Provide details regarding the organisation’s/zoo’s/facilities’ security provisions in regard to:
    1. the possibility of escape of animals from the enclosure and how this risk will be mitigated;
    2. protecting the animal(s) from unauthorised people; and
    3. protecting animal(s) from other animals (including pests).
  2. Structures/Infrastructure
    1. A diagram/map of the dedicated enclosure/s where the animal will be kept, including the:
      1. dimensions of the enclosure/s
      2. location/positioning of other features within the facility and fence lines.
    2. Descriptions and photographs of the completed enclosure showing all aspects and features, including:
      1. Outdoors: enclosure furnishing; construction materials, ventilation and design of any outdoor shelters; a description of the flooring/surfaces of the enclosure (for example, beaten earth, grass, concrete etc) and drainage.
      2. Indoors: Dimensions (metric); construction materials, ventilation and design of indoor shelters/night quarters/dens; den furnishing; a description of the flooring/surfaces of the shelters (for example, beaten earth, concrete etc) and drainage.
    3. A description of the barrier arrangements for the enclosure including:
      1. the type of barrier (for example, fencing, moat etc)
      2. material used in the construction of the barrier
      3. dimensions in metric units - height, depth etc and any variations.
    4. Describe what will be provided for the behavioural needs of the animal including but not limited to:
      • physical provisions (for example, climbing, perching, swimming etc)
      • behavioural enrichment (for example, variation in routine, feeding, interaction with others of its species etc).
    5. A description of any vegetation (for example, trees) provided in the enclosure.
    6. A description of the weather conditions of the area the facility is located (for example, average and extreme temperatures, humidity etc), and a description of any heating/cooling that will be provided for the welfare of the animal(s) within the enclosure.
    7. A description of the number of individual animals that will be housed in each enclosure.
    8. Detail the arrangements for separating and removing individuals from the enclosure and when this might be required.
    9. A description of any other species that will be housed in the enclosure (and expected impact if any), the type of species and the number of each species.
  3. Food and water
    1. A description of the food that will be provided to the animal(s), quantities, and frequency of feeding.
    2. A description of the methods for ensuring a supply of fresh water for the animal(s).
  4. Management
    1. A description of the arrangements in place for cleaning and removing waste (e.g., frequency, protocols).
    2. A description of how animal records will be maintained.
  5. Staffing
    1. Provide details regarding relevant staffing arrangements.
      1. A summary of relevant handling experience of the staff members who will have responsibility for the animal(s).
      2. A description of any relevant training that will be provided to staff members who will have responsibility for the animal(s).
      3. A summary of veterinary expertise available in the facility.
  6. Welfare
    Please provide information on any applicable Australian, or overseas, animal welfare requirements that the facility is subject to for the purposes of holding animals for exhibition (for example, standards set by zoological associations, or government regulators).
  7. Declaration
    The Australian organisation (as applicant) must provide a signed declaration from a relevant expert (for example, veterinarian, keeper or curator etc) with experience in the housing and care of the taxon to be transferred. The declaration form will be provided by the Department during assessment of the application.

Additional criteria for koalas

  1. What facilities are provided for the perching of the koalas (include height, perches per enclosure)? (provide photographs)
  2. Provide details on:
    1. The number, size and location of plantations or Eucalypt collection sites from which feed Eucalypts will be sourced (include details on plantation ownership and certainty of supply).
    2. The means of eucalypt transportation.
    3. The number of times per week Eucalypt leaves are to be transported.
    4. The leaf storage arrangements.
    5. The species of Eucalypts that are available from the plantations or collection sites and how this compares with the koalas usual diet at the exporting Australian institution.
    6. The daily Eucalypt leaf diet intended for the koalas, including species names, amount and leaf age.
    7. How the other nutritional needs of koalas are met, such as supply of fresh water and mineral salts.
    8. What arrangements have been made for the alternative supply of Eucalypt browse in the event of a disturbance to the primary supply (such as a natural disaster) or to the primary means of transportation (such as a transport strike).
    1. How many veterinary and keeping staff will be responsible for the care of the koalas?
    2. What experience does the organisation’s staff have with koalas?
    3. What training is proposed for staff?

Additional criteria for macropods

  1. Will the exhibit allow the public to walk through the enclosure? If so, detail the protocols and security resources that will be in place (including supervision, control of access, contact with animals, identification and removal of problem animals).
    1. How will food and water be presented to the animals?
    2. How often will food and water be replaced and containers cleaned?
    3. What provision will be made for water for cooling purposes?
    4. Will any public feeding of the animals occur, and if so, how will it be controlled?
  3. What methods will be employed for the control of pests (eg insects, rodents, birds)?
  4. What procedures will be employed for the release of the macropods from their transport containers upon arrival?