Recapture/Evacuation

Dear Max Power

Thank you for your email dated 23 April 2009 requesting information under
the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Your request was received by Belfast
City Council on 23 April 2009 and has been passed to me to reply. I can
confirm that the Council does hold the information you have requested.

The City of Belfast Zoological Gardens Escape Procedure

Dated: January 2009

The City of Belfast Zoological Gardens recognises the requirement to train
and instruct Zoo personnel to ensure the effective management of the
collection and the health and safety of the Zoo's staff and the Zoo's
visitors.

The following document outlines the Zoo's escape procedure and the
measures that might be required during an animal escape.

General

The safety of the Zoo's staff, visitors and other site users (such as
contractors) are of paramount importance and at all times during an animal
escape the well being and safety of the above persons should remain the
main priority.

Staff should bear in mind that during an animal escape situation, members
of the public will not always react in their usual manner. They could
become frightened, confused or panicky, and staff should try to remain
polite though firm when dealing with visitors. Staff should try to use
clear instructions when interacting with Zoo visitors during an escape and
remain calm themselves.

There is also the potential for considerable media interest in an animal
escape, and this updated procedure includes new detail on media relations
and management during an escape. Key to this element of the escape
procedure will be our ability to allow animal managers and staff to manage
those actions required to ensure visitor and staff safety, and the
recapture of the animal, while keeping goods lines of communication and
information with the media and other external and relevant organisations.

The officer responsible for implementing the escape procedure will usually
be the designated Duty Officer.

Categorisation

To provide an overview of actions that might be required during an animal
escape, there are perhaps four broad categories that an escaped species
might fall into:

i group 1 a species or individual of sufficient size and/or
danger to pose a severe threat requiring immediate specialist assistance;

ii group 2 a species or individual of sufficient danger to
pose a severe threat to staff and visitors;

iii group 3 a species or individual of limited potential
danger;

iv group 4 a species or individual of minimal threat.

There are a number of variable factors that will dictate the actions that
the Duty Officer could take during an animal escape to try to best insure
the safety of Zoo staff and visitors. Among many, these will include:

i time of day, time of year, number of Zoo personnel available on
site, approximate number of visitors on site;

ii location of the escaped animal, its proximity to its own
enclosures and animal houses, other zoo buildings, zoo visitors, other zoo
animals, or external Zoo boundaries;

iii the apparent, and known, behaviour, and age of the species, and if
appropriate the individual, that has escaped.

Having assessed these, and other variable factors, it should be possible
for the Duty Officer to risk assess the actions that might be required
during an animal escape. These might include the sedation, catching or
herding of an escaped animal to affect its recapture and return it to its
normal enclosure. In extreme circumstances, it may even be necessary to
consider the destruction of the escaped animal for the protection of Zoo
staff, visitors and other Zoo animals.

Escapes that occur outside normal working hours will generate a range of
different factors. In such circumstances, while perhaps the management of
zoo visitors might be a reduced or removed factor, the lack of office
assistance, the lack of daylight and other factors might be relevant and
complicating new factors. Ideally, staff should wear a piece of logo-ed
Zoo uniform to ensure they are readily identifiable.

However, it should also be remembered that the Zoo houses a unique and
valuable collection of animals. While no member of staff should put
themselves or their colleagues at risk, and the safety of Zoo staff and
visitors is the primary concern during an animal escape, consideration
will also be given towards the health and welfare of the escaped animal.

Actions

So that Zoo staff have the opportunity to familiarize themselves with
actions that might be required during an animal escape, and of actions and
duties that they might be required to undertake, the Duty Officer is
likely to consider the following actions:

i it is envisaged that having seen or been informed of an escape,
the available information will be immediately reported to the Duty
Officer;

ii depending on the species or individual that has escaped, it is
likely that the DO will want to secure the immediate vicinity of the
escaped animal if it is at all possible. This might be possible using
vehicles, staff with suitable equipment or utilizing other available
equipment;

iii depending on the species or individual that has escaped, the DO
might utilize

Zoo staff to assist with the removal of visitors from the immediate
vicinity of the escaped animal, or to remove visitors into safe houses, or
to remove visitors entirely from the site (further notes regarding safe
areas and visitor removal are included in appendix A);

iv the DO, either directly or through delegation, might need to
contact the following specialist assistance:

a) the police, at Tennent Street RUC. If the police are required, they
should be directed to whichever gates at the office are available for
entry into the Zoo;

b) the Veterinary surgeon; the vet should also be directed to whichever
gates at the office are available for entry;

v where it is possible and required, bearing in mind that the radio
channels should be kept as clear as possible so that information relating
to the animal escape can be relayed to the DO, a roll call of staff,
particularly those who might be working in the vicinity of the escape,
will take place via radio;

vi no attempt should be made to approach the animal, unless staff are
specifically instructed that it is safe to do so. Before approaching any
animal, staff should have suitable safety equipment and assistance from
other Zoo personnel available;

vii the DO might want to secure the whole Zoo site, to avoid public
entry and to reduce the risk of the escaped animal leaving the Zoo
grounds;

viii the DO might want to ensure that all staff on the Zoo site are
aware of an escape, and office staff should be aware that they might be
required, via telephone, to contact the joiners and gardeners shops and
stores, the Ark cafeteria and the Mountain Tea House.

Media relations

Conclusions

While far from exhaustive, the above list suggests some of the actions
that might be needed during an animal escape. These actions, and others,
might be used by the DO and other Zoo staff to best manage the situation.

Whatever actions are required, it should be possible for the DO to risk
assess the various options that are available, depending on a number of
variable factors, to re-secure the escaped animal.

Zoo staff should read the above escape procedure. Through practice,
experience and use of this document, risks to Zoo staff, visitors and
animals can be significantly reduced during an animal escape.

Appendix A

As outlined above, during an animal escape there might be the requirement
to remove visitors from the immediate vicinity of the escaped animal, or
to remove visitors into safe houses, or, in extreme circumstances, to
remove visitors entirely from the site.

Staff should also consider the presence of contractors on site, and while
details regarding these are their likely whereabouts on site are now
included in the contractors signing in book in the main office, our
ability to ensure the safety of all people on site during an animal escape
will be paramount.

Whatever option is deemed to be the most relevant and effective for the
particular circumstances will be co-ordinated by the DO. The DO will
implement the escape procedure and the following safe area guidelines as
fully as are required by the circumstances.

The following list suggests those Zoo buildings that might be used to take
visitors should it be required. The safety of a building and its
appropriateness as a safe area for visitors during an animal escape will
depend to a degree on the nature, behaviour and species of the escaped
animal. Where possible, staff should try to remain aware of some of these
differences and react accordingly ie keeping people away from windows
where the escaped animal has the potential to break windows, or keeping
visitors in an enclosed, roofed area where the animal has the ability to
climb or leap.

There are a number of areas and buildings in the Zoo that might be
considered suitable for taking visitors to during an escape, these
include:

i near C/DJ/Fm sections J building, Farm building, school
room,

Ark cafeteria, flamingo viewer;

ii near D and Dg sections sitatunga house and yard, camel
house

and yard, middle toilet blocks, elephant and giraffe house and yard;

iii near M and K sections monkey house, chimp house, macaque

yard;

iv near Kg and I sections gorilla house, coati house area,
Mountain

tea house and toilets, tiger house and

yard, lion house;

v near G and B sections otter house, parrot house,
rainforest

house, walk-through aviary;

vi near entrance/store shop, office, car park,
Ark cafeteria, mess

rooms, store.

In extreme circumstances, it might be necessary to locate and remove,
either to safe houses or from the site entirely, all visitors in the Zoo.
This will require a sweep of the entire site, which will be co-ordinated
by the DO, but to highlight vague areas of responsibility, the following
list shows sections and/or areas of the Zoo and their areas of
responsibility:

Sections Area

DJ and Farm from lower ruffed lemur viewer, through J building
and Farm

area, play areas, around lake to spider monkey/walk-though aviary corner,
down to floral hall, back to J building and Farm;

D and Dg from top of spectacled bear exhibit, round
Elephant and Giraffe

House, to middle toilets, back to bears;

M and K from middle toilets, round monkey house, past outside
chimp

enclosure, to penguin underwater viewing, past marmosets, back to monkey
house;

Kg and I from maned wolf enclosure, past fossa, gorillas, up to
Mountain tea House, down hill to tigers;

G and B from lion house, down hill to eagle aviary, bird park and
walk-

through aviaries;

A and store from Floral hall to burger bar/store area, avenue
and Old Zoo;

Ark cafe area in immediate vicinity of cafe;

Mountain Tea House area in immediate vicinity of Tea House;

Admin/shop area around office, shop, Zoo entrance etc.

These duties and areas of responsibility are not exhaustive, and it is
quite possible that some animal section staff will be in the vicinity of
the escaped animal and thus unable to take part in the sweep of the Zoo.
In such circumstances, the DO might consider the use of Zoo drivers to
assist with a site check.

End.

EVACUATION PROCEDURE AND FIRE ROUTINE FOR THE CITY OF BELFAST ZOOLOGICAL
GARDENS

Dated: January 2009

The City of Belfast Zoological Gardens recognises the requirement to train
and instruct Zoo personnel to ensure the effective management of the
collection and the health and safety of the Zoo staff and the visiting
public.

The following document outlines the Zoo's fire procedures and the measures
that should be taken during a fire.

GENERAL

The safety of the Zoo's staff and visitors are of paramount importance and
at all times during a fire the well-being and safety of the above persons
should remain the major priority.

Common sense should have a bearing on fire safety standards and everyone
on the Zoo site should be alert to any habits or incidents that threaten
fire or safety in any way. These should be reported when seen.

Staff should bear in mind that during a fire, members of the public will
not always react in their usual manner. In such an emergency which places
people in actual or potential physical danger there is a tendency to
behave irrationally. They could become frightened, confused or panicky,
which potentially increases the danger. Staff should try to remain polite
though firm when dealing with visitors. Staff should try to use clear
instructions when giving orders and remain calm themselves.

The officer responsible for implementing the fire procedure will usually
be the designated Duty Officer.

IN THE EVENT OF FIRE

On discovering a fire, the following fire routine should be adhered to and
the listed specific procedures followed in sequence:

RAISE THE ALARM

The alarm should be raised via appropriate and available communication
methods (voice, telephone, radios etc), and through fire alarms, where
appropriate, in animal houses and other Zoo buildings. Incidence of a
fire should be reported to the Zoo's Duty Officer.

CALL THE FIRE BIRIGADE AND OTHER EMERGENCY SERVICES

The main office will be responsible for telephoning the fire brigade.
Staff in the main office should confirm with the senior staff member
present that the fire brigade are alerted. It may be required that
entrance gates to the Zoo are manned and that the fire brigade are
escorted to the scene of the fire. The Vet may also be required. Jubilee
Vet Centre should be contacted and advised as above.

EVACUATE THE BUILDING

The building on fire should be immediately evacuated. In buildings open
to the public, staff should attempt to escort visitors to the evacuation
area, as outlined on the blue N.I. fire signs. Staff should not put
themselves at any risk, and if required, should await specialist
assistance.

USE PORTABLE FIRE-FIGHTING EQUIPMENT WHEN SAFE TO DO SO

Fire fighting equipment ie blankets, portable appliances, are available in
animal houses, stores and offices. These should only be used where it is
safe to do so. Staff should not put themselves at any risk, and if
required, should await specialist assistance.

ASSEMBLY AND ROLL CALL AT A PREARRANGED ASSEMBLY POINT

A roll call of staff in the vicinity of the fire will take place, via
radio, bearing in mind that the radio channels should be kept as clear as
possible so that information relating to the fire can be relayed to the
senior staff member present. A full role call of all Zoo staff should
take place as soon as possible at the end of the fire evacuation. Staff
should also attempt to account for visitors presumed to be in the vicinity
of the fire. It may be required that families, groups or schools organise
their own role call.

Zoo staff, via consultation with the main office, should also try to
account for contractors on site and ensure their safety. Relevant
information is now contained in the contractors signing book.

Having followed the above procedures, it is envisaged that in the event of
a fire in the Zoo, staff and visitors can be protected and their safety
ensured.

It should also be remembered that the Zoo houses a unique and valuable
collection of animals. While the safety of the Zoo staff and visitors is
the primary concern during a fire, some consideration should also be given
towards the health and welfare of the animal collection.

Most animals are naturally wary and afraid of fire. The majority of
animals in the Zoo have access to large outdoor enclosures and will
normally retreat away from a building on fire into a safe area. It is
therefore reasonable to presume that the majority of the Zoo's animals
will move themselves away from a fire.

On occasion, animals may become trapped inside a house on fire. It might
be possible to herd or catch an animal to remove it from the fire risk.
In extreme circumstances, the animal may require sedation prior to being
moved. Any attempts to do so should only take place as long as the above
procedures have been followed, that the animal house has first been
cleared of visitors and it is considered safe to do so. Staff should only
consider such actions having consulted with the senior member of Zoo staff
present.

No Zoo staff should put themselves in a position of risk during a fire on
behalf of an animal.

It may be required for the protection of the animals that they are
actually released from their enclosures, for recapture later. This should
only be carried out when it is safe to do so for zoo staff considering the
potential risk from the fire, and where it is safe to do so considering
the potential risk to staff and visitors of the animal species. No
attempt should be made to release a species or individual of sufficient
size and/or danger to pose a severe threat, alternative risk assessments
and actions will be required for these species.

A number of variable factors will determine the procedures for release of
other animal species from their enclosures during a fire. A decision
concerning the feasibility of this will be made by the senior member of
Zoo staff present. No attempt by Zoo staff should be made to release any
animal species without prior consultation with the senior member of Zoo
staff.

Zoo staff should read and understand the above procedures and familiarise
themselves with the fire procedures. It is hoped that through effective
utilisation of the above, risk of injury to staff, public, contractors and
animals can be minimised.

End.

If you are dissatisfied with how the Council handled your request for
information, you have the right to request that the Council formally
review this decision. If you wish to do so, please write to the Records
Manager, Belfast City Council, Adelaide Exchange, 24-26 Adelaide Street,
Belfast, BT2 8GD.

Should you remain dissatisfied following the Council's internal review,
you can seek an independent review from the Information Commissioner.
Requests for an independent review should be made in writing to: The
Information Commissioner, Wycliffe House, Water Lane, Wilmslow, Cheshire,
SK9 5AF. However, I would advise you that the Information Commissioner
has indicated that a review will not be undertaken unless the Council has
first had an opportunity to re-consider its decision.

Yours sincerely

Mark

Mark Challis

Zoo Manager

Belfast Zoological Gardens, Antrim Road, Belfast, BT36 7PN

t. 028 90 776 277

dd. 028 90 782 080

f. 028 90 370 578

[1]www.belfastzoo.co.uk

Visitor Attraction of the Year, Northern Ireland Tourism Awards 2007

Best NI Visitor Attraction 2007, NI Travel and Tourism Awards

Visitor Attraction of the Year, Go Belfast Gong Awards 2007

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References

Visible links
1. http://www.belfastzoo.co.uk/

Hi

Thank you for your message, I am currently out of the office, but back again on Thursday 28 Mayl 2009.

If you would like some Zoo information, please try our brand new website at belfastzoo.co.uk
If you would like to speak to someone at the Zoo, please ring our information line on 028 90 776 277. Please ask for Joy Bond (marketing and PR, and visitor centre opening enquiries), and either Alyn Cairns, Andrew Hope or Julie Mansell (animals/grounds).

I will get back to you as soon as I can when I return.

Thanks, Mark

The information contained in or attached to this message is intended only for the people to whom it is addressed. If you are not the intended recipient, any use, storage, disclosure or copying of this information is unauthorised and prohibited.This information may be confidential or subject to legal privilege.If you have received this email in error please notify the sender immediatelyby using the reply facility in your email software and then delete the email from your inbox.The contents of this message do not represent the expressed view of Belfast City Council unless that is clearly stated.Belfast City Council cannot accept liability in the event that the onward transmission, opening, or use of this message and/or any attachments adversely affects the recipient's systems or data.