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Question and Answer Tracking Details

9686 - Agriculture - LION ESCAPE AT TARONGA ZOO

Hurst, Emma to the Minister for Regional Transport and Roads representing the Minister for Agriculture, and Minister for Western New South Wales

(1) In respect to the lions that escaped from Taronga Zoo on 2 November 2022, when was the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) advised that the lions had escaped?

(a) Could the Minister please provide a specific date and time?

(2) Did the DPI send officers to attend Taronga Zoo following the escape?

(a) If so, when did they arrive?

(3) As far as the DPI is aware, how were the lions able to escape from their exhibited area?

(4) Is the DPI conducting its own investigation into how the lions escaped?

(a) If so, please advise the following:

(i) when is the investigation is likely to conclude?

(ii) whether the results of the investigation will be made public?

(b) If not, why not?

(5) What steps were undertaken by Taronga Zoo before re-opening to the public, to ensure there was no ongoing safety risk?

(6) Did the DPI approve Taronga Zoo reopening to the public after the escape, or was this a decision Taronga Zoo made on their own?

(7) What penalties can Taronga Zoo be subject to if they are found to be at fault in relation to the escape of the lions?

(8) Have the lions been examined by a veterinarian since they escaped?

(a) If so, what was the outcome of that examination?

(9) With respect to the report that the lions will remain “in a back-of-house area” until the “main exhibit” has been properly secured and any repairs approved by the DPI:

(a) What is the size of the “back of house” area?

(b) What is the size of the “main exhibit”?

(10) Has the DPI approved the lions remaining in the “back of house” area?
Answer -

(1) 

(a) 2 November 2022 at approximately 8:30am.

(2) Yes.

(a) 2 November 2022 at approximately 1 :00pm.

(3) DPI is aware that a component of the fence failed which allowed the lions to escape.

(4) Yes.

(a) 

(i) 25 November 2022.

(b) 

(ii) Section 45 of the Exhibited Animals Protection Act 1986 provides that information obtained in the administration or execution of the Act cannot be disclosed except in certain circumstances.

(c) Answer provided in (4)(a)(ii).

(5) Taronga Zoo ensured all escaped animals were safely contained within exhibits or holding areas.

(6) Taronga Zoo made this decision.

(7) The investigation will need to be completed before penalties can be considered.

(8) Yes.

(a) The lions passed all veterinarian assessments.

(9) 

(a) Section 45 of the Exhibited Animals Protection Act 1986 provides that information obtained in the administration or execution of the Act cannot be disclosed except in certain circumstances.

(b) Section 45 of the Exhibited Animals Protection Act 1986 provides that information obtained in the administration or execution of the Act cannot be disclosed except in certain circumstances.

(10) Yes.

Question asked on 7 November 2022 (session 57-1) and to be published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 863
Answer received on 28 November 2022 and to be published in Questions & Answers Paper No. 878

The Parliament of New South Wales acknowledges and respects the traditional lands of all Aboriginal people, and pays respects to all Elders past and present. We acknowledge the Gadigal people as the traditional custodians of the land on which the Parliament of New South Wales stands.