Noel Rock (Dublin North West, Fine Gael)
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644. To ask the Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht her views on the report submitted by Dublin Zoo to the National Parks and Wildlife Service which detailed that the zoo had over 100 animal deaths in the space of two years between 2014 and 2016, including a number of animals on loan from other zoos; her views on whether this will damage the zoo's reputation; if international comparisons have been sought for best practice; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14146/17]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department is responsible for implementing the European Communities (Licensing and Inspection of Zoos) Regulations 2003, relating to the keeping of wild animals in zoos. The National Parks and Wildlife Service of my Department is responsible for the inspection and licensing of zoos and appoints suitable persons as inspectors for the purposes of these Regulations.

The most recent inspection of Dublin Zoo took place in July 2016 and the report provided by my Department’s zoo inspectorate notes that Dublin Zoo is a leader of best practice in Ireland and Europe. As part of the zoo inspection process the animal inventory of each zoo is reviewed and any anomalies are highlighted by the zoo inspectors for clarification. If deemed necessary, individual post-mortem reports may also be reviewed. No issues around welfare, husbandry or diet were identified during recent inspections of Dublin Zoo.

Mortality rates are a product in part of species which naturally have short life cycles or with naturally high mortalities of newly born or hatched specimens. During inspection, any unusual instances of mortality are discussed with the zoo in question and reviewed, and where appropriate the post-mortems are also reviewed.

I understand that the deaths reported for 2014 and 2015 in Dublin Zoo are considered a normal part of the life cycle of the zoo’s collection and that there are currently no concerns in relation to the mortality patterns noted at the zoo.

It is the experience of my Department’s zoo inspectorate that Dublin Zoo provides very high quality care for the animals under their care.

As a fully licensed zoo, Dublin Zoo is due to be inspected next later in 2017. As with previous inspections, a report will be compiled on foot of this inspection and any discrepancies or contraventions of the zoo regulations that are identified will be noted in that report.