Proposed new rules aim to manage ferocious animals

The Hangzhou municipal bureau of forestry and water resources in Zhejiang province has released for public comment some suggested rules aiming to strengthen the management of ferocious animals in the city's zoos and parks.

The draft, if adopted, would require that all such animals in zoos have chips implanted and introduces technology for digitally tracking them.

It was published on the bureau's website on Tuesday soliciting public opinion covering all zoos, wildlife parks, breeding centers and animal exhibition areas in the city.

The proposed rules stipulate that a double-access control system must be in place at cage-house exits and entrances for fierce animals, and the two doors must not be able to open simultaneously.

Meanwhile, the cage area itself must be provided with separate entrance and exit doors. And 24-hour monitoring equipment must be installed.

The suggested rules were formulated after some animals escaped from zoos in the city in recent months, threatening residents' lives.

In April, three leopards escaped from an animal isolation area in Hangzhou Safari Park as a result of negligence by their keepers.Two of the animals were captured and sent back to the park, but the third one remains at large.