Chester Zoo Case Study

Chester Zoo is the UK's number one zoo, close to the historic city of Chester and contains over 7000 animals, which are viewed by over 1.4 million visitors a year.

 

Chester Zoo significantly contributes to the protection of species and habitats through a combination of field and zoo-based conservation.  By using the expertise of zoo staff and working with a wide range of national and international partners, they initiate and support a variety of conservation activities including:  field conservation, education, conservation breeding, research and advance in animal welfare.

 

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recognises the specific occupational ill-health problems that can be encountered by zoo workers due to exposure to harmful substances and also through diseases transmitted by animals (zoonoses), (page 26, HSE, 2006).  The Well Travelled Clinic Team at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine is currently working with Chester Zoo staff to undertake a detailed risk assessment of activities for animal handlers and to devise a series of protocols and algorithms regarding appropriate health protection and screening programmes.  Together we hope to be able to use the work we are doing to provide guidance to other zoos and animal parks across the UK in best practice in risk assessment and screening of animal handlers.

For more information about Chester Zoo: http://www.chesterzoo.org/