Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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1315. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government the reasons elephants were moved from/to Dublin Zoo in the recent years in light of the fact that transport of elephants is a stress source for the animals and potentially increases mortality by 50%. [20510/25]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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1316. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has considered that Dublin Zoo does not provide elephants with the appropriate environment where they could forage foods naturally; the potential this has on their welfare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [20511/25]

Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Solidarity)
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1317. To ask the Minister for Housing, Planning, and Local Government if his Department has taken steps to ensure optimal temperatures for elephants in Dublin Zoo, given that wild Asian elephants have evolved and lived in tropical and subtropical climates. [20512/25]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1315, 1316 and 1317 together.

The National Parks & Wildlife Service in my Department is responsible for the regulation, inspection and licensing of zoos in Ireland. The European Communities (Licensing and Inspection of Zoos) Regulations 2003 provide the legislative basis for the inspection and licensing of zoos in Ireland. These Regulations give effect to EU Directive 1999/22/EC (the Zoo Directive).

The purpose of the Directive relating to the keeping of wild animals in zoos is to protect wild fauna and to conserve biodiversity by providing for the adoption of measures by Member States for the licensing and inspection of zoos in the EU, thereby strengthening the role of zoos in the conservation of biodiversity. The Regulations are supported by the Irish Standards of Modern Zoo Practice, developed to assist zoos and aquaria comply with exiting legislation and the meet the highest possible standards of welfare for the animals in their care.

Dublin Zoo follows the International Studbook recommendations for the management of elephants in captivity. I understand that the movement of elephants to and from Dublin Zoo is carried out to maintain numbers at suitable levels for the facility and following recommendations from the International Studbook as part of the global breeding programme. Issues such as the temperature of housing and the forage area for elephants are operational issues for the Zoo. Elephants in Dublin Zoo are provided with an indoor heated environment.