3. Will the Cabinet Secretary make a statement on action taken to protect wild animals in Borth zoo near Aberystwyth, in light of the death of two of its wild cats? 62

Ceredigion County Council is investigating the escape of the lynx and the death of a second lynx linked to the zoo to establish whether there have been any breaches of the operating licence. While inquiries are ongoing it would be inappropriate for me to comment further on this matter. 

I’m grateful to the Cabinet Secretary for attempting to answer the question at least, but of course these events have created a great deal of concern to many people in the area and, more broadly, to people who care for animals and their welfare at zoos. Can the Cabinet Secretary confirm that the Government has been in contact with the county council over this period? What discussions and what steps have been taken? For example, did the Government approve the steps taken by the county council in this case and more broadly with the position of the zoo? It’s clear that there’s something amiss when a wild animal can escape and another dies because of its handling. Are we therefore in a position to look at national regulations that govern organisations such as this to ensure that people who run zoos do have the appropriate skills, but also that the equipment is suitable for the animals kept there?

Thank you. I too am very concerned about both of these incidents. Officials have been in frequent contact with Ceredigion County Council. The decision to dispatch the animal was taken by the county council along with Dyfed-Powys Police, officials from Welsh Government and also the chief veterinary officer. There are several issues that I think need to be looked into very carefully around the licence. At the moment, there is a specialist veterinary inspection being undertaken. That should conclude today. Again, I've asked my officials to keep in contact and to brief me as soon as we've had that information. We don't want to second-guess what's going to happen, but I think it is very important that we look at all the facts here. 

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for everything that you've said, but I have to say that I was particularly horrified about the events that followed the escape. I'm particularly concerned that the lynx was killed when, in my opinion, it could have been trapped. I looked at the traps that were used and there is criticism about that—about the fact that they weren't appropriate and that they could have been better all round, because the animal had to crouch down rather than walk into the traps that were put out to capture it live. I wonder whether questions will be raised about that process. I was then absolutely horrified to hear that an animal in capture was killed because of inexperience in handling and moving those animals. So, all of this, I suppose, leads to an obvious question, and that is: when licences are being issued, whether there is consideration, at least, about the experience of the staff as well as the facilities in which those animals are going to be held. Also, I would support what Simon Thomas has said about whether we need to look at reviewing this whole system and the wider issues around that, and whether licences are being given too easily, in some cases, in the name of conservation, when actually sometimes the ultimate aim is making money.

Thank you. As I said to Simon Thomas, I share many of your concerns and his concerns in relation to this incident—or two incidents. If I could just say a bit about how licences are given. If there is an application for a licence, a zoo would be inspected by a team. That would include at least one or two inspectors that are on the Secretary of State's list. We do have input. Obviously, licences are devolved to Wales, however this is a system that was set up back in the 1970s. But we do have, as a Government, input into that list via the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Once the licence has been applied for, that's who it would be inspected by: at least one inspector from that list. They could be vets or they could be inspectors who have been nominated by the Secretary of State after a request by a local authority. Formal inspections are also undertaken before a licence is renewed or if there is a significant change to a licence, but I absolutely agree that we need to review the process that we have. I also wanted to add that Ceredigion County Council's decision to authorise the humane destruction of the animal on 10 November was an operational one, which was taken after the receipt of expert advice based on the level of risk to members of the public rising from moderate to severe.

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary. The next question—Andrew R.T. Davies.