Russia (bbabo.net), - Animals in circuses, zoos, dolphinariums, zoo theaters, aquariums must have adequate nutrition, normal conditions for work, living, recreation and transportation. And not be dangerous for spectators and visitors. This is the main goal of the introduction of licensing of leisure and entertainment establishments that use animals in their work. Enterprises were given a year and a half to fulfill this requirement. They ended with the chimes. The correspondents of Rossiyskaya Gazeta checked what is going on in circuses and zoos.

Time has expired

Since January 1, 2022, the activities of circuses that have not received a license are prohibited. This is provided for by the Federal Law of December 27, 2018 N 498-FZ (as amended on June 11, 2021) "On the Responsible Treatment of Animals and on Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Russian Federation."

According to Rosselkhoznadzor, 147 licenses were issued across the country as of January 1. They were received mainly by the largest circuses, zoos and dolphinariums in large cities of the country. And hundreds of institutions either did not have time to acquire a license, or could not, because the conditions for keeping animals in them do not meet the requirements.

They won't be closed, but spectators won't be allowed in

According to the Southern Interregional Administration of Rosselkhoznadzor, in the Krasnodar Territory, out of the registered enterprises using animals, only one in three has received a license, in Sochi - less than half.

The regional department of Rosselkhoznadzor explained: while zoos, circuses and other institutions that have not submitted applications for licenses, will not be closed. However, they are now prohibited from receiving visitors. The department has already drawn up a plan of inspections to be held in January-February. Violators face fines first. And then a complete closure, but the decision on this will be made by the court. This procedure is the same throughout Russia.

What to do with Dick and live?

In Murmansk, in fact, the northernmost oceanarium in Europe is already shutting down. To comply with all licensing standards, the enterprise needs to build a new building with more spacious enclosures, areas for animals to rest, a water treatment system, a sewage system, and special lighting.

Murmansk Oceanarium is a legendary institution, a city landmark. It has five permanent inhabitants. For example, Dick is the only trained sea hare in Russia who can play musical instruments.

Some animals have a very difficult fate. For example, a young female seal Zhiva was thrown into a veterinary clinic in Kaliningrad ten years ago. Wounded by a boat propeller, she underwent several operations.

According to the director of the aquarium, Irina Korotysh, the animals will live in the old building of the aquarium, in their usual enclosures, and continue rehearsals. The coaching staff is also supposed to be retained, since these are unique specialists. However, the construction of a new building is not a matter of one year.

By January 20, the owner of the oceanarium must submit to the regional authorities a "conceptual project" for the reconstruction and creation of a new facility. After that, the final decision on the future of the oceanarium will be made, said the governor of the Murmansk region, Andrey Chibis.

Private traders work

In the Sverdlovsk region, out of 30 institutions subject to licensing, less than a dozen have received permission to continue their work. And as told in the local administration of Rosselkhoznadzor, there is a fear that the owners will begin to massively abandon the animals.

Meanwhile, there are no equipped premises for their accommodation in the region. There is also no procedure for carrying out special veterinary care measures and their maintenance. A few months before the introduction of the new rules, employees of the department reported this to the head of the region.

Another big problem is the numerous private traders who mercilessly exploit animals. I haven’t been able to find them yet. During the New Year holidays, the so-called horsemen are in full swing on the central square of Yekaterinburg. From morning until late at night, they ride children and adults on horses, dressed in ridiculous carnival costumes, and a little pony, on whose head for some reason antlers have been hoisted. The owners have not heard of any licensing. And they are not going to bother on this score.

"Flayers"

In Sochi, private traders who do business on animals, street photographers with pets, have long been nicknamed "flayers". As the Rosselkhoznadzor explained, they are not officially registered, they are not registered with the tax authorities. And, accordingly, they fall out of the field of control of the department.

Now there are noticeably fewer "flayers" on the streets of the resort. But they remain and will exist as long as there is demand for their services. Meanwhile, as the sad experience shows, it is dangerous for both animals and people.And as animal rights activists note, the problem of private traders working without any permits is no less, and perhaps even more serious, than the licensing of zoos and circuses. Often there is evidence of illegal business activities and the provision of services of inadequate quality. And, of course, obviously animal cruelty.

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