Zoo Standards

A booking link will be added to this page on 28 June 2025.

On Monday 26 January 2026 we will are holding a one day workshop covering the 2027 Standards of Modern Zoo Practice. These standards apply to all establishments in the UK operating under a zoo licence.

Charlie Heap, NCBP Director, chaired the working group of bird of prey centres feeding back to DEFRA on the 2nd and 3rd drafts of the standards. Charlie is also a co-opted member of the Hawk Board where he represents the interests of zoos keeping raptors in the UK

The aim of the day will be to explain how the standards will affect bird of prey centres and to then equip centres with the knowledge to meet the requirements.

There is going to be significant increase in the amount of record keeping – templates for the required records will be available for attendees to take away and an explanation of how to put those templates to good use will be part of the day.

There will also be a number of procedures that many zoos will need to adopt in future – again we’ll run through those and provide solutions for attendees to use. Sample written risk assessments and protocols will also be available to take away.

Most bird of prey centres will have to make physical changes to their facilities to meet the new Standards, particularly the tethering requirements in A6.11. We’ll discuss what sort of changes need to be made and give some ideas of the best and most affordable ways of making those changes.

We will also deal with the thorny issue of when an inspection goes wrong. Many of us will have experienced a zoo inspector who is clearly pushing his own agenda and/or is not inspecting against legislation but making it up as he/she goes along. We’ll discuss how best to deal with this situation.

We have had a great deal of interest in this day and expect all 30 places to be taken quickly. Please don’t delay in making your booking!

A light lunch is included in the price, as is tea and coffee.

A certificate of attendance is included – this can be used to help meet the CPD requirements of the Standards.

The entire proceeds of the day will gee donated to the Hawk Board. The Hawk Board is a representative board for falconers and raptor keepers in the UK and over the last 40+ years has campaigned tirelessly for the rights of falconers and bird of prey keepers. It is safe to say that none of us would be doing what we do at present if it hadn’t been for the Hawk Board past achievements.