Source · Prevention of Future Deaths

Rosa King

Ref: 2019-0239 Date: 12 Jul 2019 Coroner: Nicholas Moss Area: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough 2 responses identified · 6 indexed addressees View PDF

AI-generated concerns summaryThe coroner identified that Hamerton Zoo lacks conventional firearms to address a tiger escape, and the process to obtain them is incomplete, with insufficient trained staff. Concerns were also raised about the lack of clear national guidelines requiring zoos to possess licensed conventional firearms.

Date 12 Jul 2019

56-day deadline 13 Nov 2019 est. estimated from the Judiciary.uk publication date

Responses identified 2 of 6

Accident at Work and Health and Safety related deaths Other related deaths

Coroner's concerns

AI summary

The coroner identified that Hamerton Zoo lacks conventional firearms to address a tiger escape, and the process to obtain them is incomplete, with insufficient trained staff. Concerns were also raised about the lack of clear national guidelines requiring zoos to possess licensed conventional firearms.

View full coroner's concerns

_ 5.1 Conventional firearms not held by Hamerton Zoo Lack of clear national guidelines 5.1.1. Should tiger escape the tiger enclosures at Hamerton Zoo or a keeper should inadvertently find themselves in the same area as a tiger, am concerned that the zoo still does not currently have access to conventional firearms to shoot a tiger in that situation to preserve human life_ 5.1.2 heard evidence that the ZOO taken measures for_two_membersof staff to morning visiting The gates from has obtain firearms' licences and they have received firearms training: However, heard evidence that the zoo has not been approved as premises to hold firearms (action for which rests with the firearms licensing department at the local constabulary) and the zoo has not fitted appropriate firearm secure containers While moving to hold conventional firearms has been made a condition of the zoo's licence under the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 (ZLA), am concerned that more than two years after Rosa's death, the process of the zoo obtaining conventional firearms has still not been completed. This carries a risk of further deaths 5.1.3. Moreover, at present only two members of the zoo staff have been trained to use conventional firearms_ am concerned that this is too few a number to ensure that member of staff trained in conventional firearms will always be on duty when the public have admittance to the zoo. This carries a risk of further deaths. 5.1.4 heard evidence that DEFRA's "Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice" is being redraftedlhas been redrafted but is not yet published. Paragraph 8.20 of the guidance as currently drafted states, 'Where a zoo holds any primate, carnivore, elephant; or hoofed mammal, listed in category of Appendix 12, appropriate firearms must be available, unless a risk assessment has shown that a firearm would not provide the most appropriate means of protection to the public from that animal, and other arrangements have been made. am concerned that the wording of this provision may have contributed to the zoo being able to pass ZLA inspections since it held one form of firearm (a darting gun) and had an arrangement with local police for conventional firearms cover. In contrast, receivved evidence from an independent expert and highly experienced zoo manager, designer and consultant that he was stunned to learn that no firearms were kept on site at Hamerton and they had had tigers since around 2003"_ am concerned that a lack of clear guidance that all Zoos which hold tigers must possess licensed conventional firearms carries a risk of further deaths. 5.1.5 Similarly, the HSE's guidance "Managing Health and Safety in Zoos" states, "63 Firearms andlor dart gunsblowpipes will be needed wherever there are hazardous animals whose escape or uncontrolled movement would represent & high risk to employees or members of the public If your zoo possesses or requires such equipment, you will need to consult with the police, as all firearms must be licensed. You will also need to keep in touch with the police to ensure your procedures are up to date. 64 It is essential that firearms and ammunition are readily available but; at the same time, kept secure in accordance with police licensing requirements In drive - through enclosures containing dangerous animals (see dangerous animals categorisation in Appendix 12 of the Secretary of State's Standard of Modern Zoo Practice) where they are needed at all times, specifically authorised people should be in charge of them: 65 Firearms and dart guns must be properly maintained, cleaned and tested. It is recommended that external specialists should examine them periodically and that firearm testing and examination is recorded. 66 Staff licensed to use firearms or dart guns must be given proper training and undertake practice exercises in their use. Refresher training and assessment is essential. Particular attention should be paid to employees ability to make the right decision in the presence of members of the public, and the training should reflect this The advice of firearms trainers recommended by the police should be sought in this matter Practice exercises will help to test the efficiency of control measures You should ensure that sufficient staff are authorised and trained to use firearms, to provide cover for absences or complex situations (see section 8(20) of the Secretary of State's Standard of Modern Zoo Practice1 and British and Irish Association of Zoos and_Aquariums_(BIAZA)_guidelines in Further yet yet reading):" emphasis added). Absence of air-lock type double keeper to the tiger paddock 5.2.1 am concerned that simple human error on the part of safety-conscious experienced zoo keeper led to a situation whereby tiger could have attacked multiple members of the visiting public Double keeper to the tiger paddock would very likely have prevented this risk were not fitted at the time. 5.2.2 The zoo has since fitted air-lock type gates at the those entrances to their tiger enclosures that are regularly used by keepers. 5.2.3 DEFRA's "Secretary of State's Standards of Modern Zoo Practice" in its current form states, "8.6 All animals should be kept in enclosures so constructed as to avoid escape Gates and doors to enclosures must be securely locked SO as to prevent unauthorised opening: In general; there should be a double gateldoor system in place to prevent escape from the secure area should one gateldoor be breached" (my emphasis added) 5.2.4. Similarly, the HSE's guidance "Managing Health and Safety in Zoos" states, Normally an internal and external door or would be provided to minimise the risk of an animal escaping: The design should allow for any lock, latch or bolt to be easily operated from the inside: The inner door to the enclosure should be kept closed when workers are in the enclosure, should be hung to make it open inwards into the enclosure to avoid closing it against the weight of an animal. (my emphasis added) 5.2.5 heard evidence from both Hamerton Zoo ad the independent expert in zoo management and design that not all other zoos had air-lock type double keeper gates even for tiger enclosures_ 5.2.6 am concerned that: Hamerton Zoo was able to pass previous ZLA inspections without any recommendation being made that a double keeper be fitted to its tiger enclosures_ The DEFRA guidance by inclusion of the words, 'In general is insufficiently clear and insufficiently prescriptive on the standards that should apply to an enclosure holding animals as deadly as tigers. Similar considerations apply to the HSE guidance. The fact that other zoos may not have double keeper fitted to tiger enclosures and the lack of more prescriptive guidance, carry a risk of further deaths_ 5.3 Working hours night-time hand-rearing work for keepers working with tigers. 5.3 heard evidence that the risk assessment of Hamerton zoo staff involved in night-time feeding hand rearing of infant animals was limited to an informal discussion between staff to share out the task and an understanding that they would raise concern if got too tired. At Hamerton zoo, doing this work was entirely voluntary but it was then unpaid, with the hours taken in doing the work unmonitored and unrecorded (save for a the focus of which was the animal's progress not staff working time) heard evidence that no advice was taken on the safety implications of carnivore keepers who were already working 45 hour, weeks also hand-rearing animals overnight with the consequent potential for disruption of sleep patterns_ heard evidence that no limits had been on the number of consecutive nights that keeper could be responsible for night-time feeding: Earlier in Rosa fed the serval kitten for consecutive nights 3 hours while working a 6 day week, for 45 hours with 1.5 hours of overtime: heard evidence that it was left to the keepers themselves to raise if they felt were getting too tired. heard evidence that Rosa and other keepers found hand-rearing animals extremely rewarding and they were happy_to do it However also (my 5.2 gates gates They gate and gate gates they diary, day put May, every they heard evidence from an independent expert in Health and Safety human factors that fatigue is a risk factor for slips and omissions, and that employees tend to underestimate effect of tiredness on their own performance_ am concerned that those risks may be all the greater where night-time work is seen by the worker as rewarding and something they may be reluctant to give up. heard evidence, and am concerned, that despite the animals belonging to the zoo as commercial organisation, the management of the zoo viewed this activity as akin to a private activity comparable to keeper caring for their own pet; and did not view it as working time: The employment-law implications of such an arrangement are beyond the scope of the inquest and this report;, but the employee safety implications of that approach are concern am concerned that keepers involved in safety critical daytime work with quite extensive daytime hours were carrying out intermittent additional night time work with Iittle risk assessment and no advice regarding appropriate limits on, or the monitoring of, those night-working hours: 5.3.2 heard evidence that since Rosa's death, the zoo has introduced a formal policy for the hand-rearing of animals_ That policy (which on its face was meant to have been reviewed on 24 April 2019) reduces_ but does not eliminate my concerns in this regard: It provides that the period of consecutive days staff spent hand-rearing should be "kept to a minimum" However; it goes on to provide that this is to be at the staff members own discretion" after what is said to be "self-evaluation" For hand-rearing done at home_ the work remains viewed as voluntary and unpaid. The policy does not make provision for the hours spent in such activity to be monitored for safety reasons, although in document provided on the last of the inquest; was told that this would be introduced before any further hand-rearing was done The policy does not make any separate provision or safeguards for those keepers whose job involves them working with the highest risk animals like tigers, where there is a risk of fatalities fatigue-induced mistakes are made No advice had been taken from any outside expert on the safety implications of night-working or the patterns of work being undertaken am concerned that there remains a risk of further deaths 5.3.3 am concerned that the above situation has continued notwithstanding the involvement of Sphere Risk Health and Safety Management Ltd who were engaged as the zoo's competent person under the Health ad Safety at Work Act 1974_ am further concerned that Stephen Smith of Sphere had assessed the risk of animal handling (including the tigers) as having a severity of only (major injury) , in the risk assessment dated August 2016. That that was the risk assessment operative at the time of Rosa's death; heard evidence that the risk of fatality from errors in tiger handling was obvious, ad that only a severity of 5 (single or multiple fatality) should have applied:. am concerned as to how such a severity rating could have been reached by a health and safety consultant considering the work of keepers who were involved in tiger-handling: am concerned that similar errors would carry a risk of further deaths. 5.3.4 am concerned at the apparent absence of national guidance in relation to the risk of zoo keepers involved in safety-critical tasks during the also undertaking night-time hand-rearing of zoo animals am concerned at the apparent absence of scrutiny of these risks in zOo inspections, both under the ZLA (since it affects public safety) and in health and safety inspections_ 5.4 Risk of fatalities from systems that are solely dependent on the human reliability of tiger keepers: 5.4.1 The system for entering the tiger enclosures at Hamerton zoo was simple, and involved a number of visual checks by the tiger keeper: However; as found by the jury, heard evidence that this system was totally dependent on the keepers reliably following their training: There was no further control measure (whether involving engineering design, or sign system, CCTV, the use of radio checks or otherwise) to limit the human error risk heard expert evidence that training on its own is not an effective measure to reduce the risks of slips, lapses or violations heard evidence that in relation to a task which carries the_risk of_single_or_multiple_fatalities human actions the the day day rating rating day flag should not be relied on to be the control of the hazard unless as a final resort 5.4.2 heard evidence that Hamerton zoo's Review of Tiger Protocols" was not suitable method statement for working in the tiger enclosures. It did not explicitly set out necessary stage of checks in the system for entering a tiger area; it had not been updated; it addressed only some of the tasks that were required (for example; it did not address into the paddock where Rosa was attacked) heard evidence that the relevant risk assessment was not suitable; that it did not consider the risk of human failure, and did not address the risk of a member of staff omitting a critical check Or action to an unintentional slip, lapse or mistake, or an intentional violation: 5.4.3 heard evidence that despite the aforesaid: ZLA inspections in 2013 (informal) and 2015 (informal) , and a Health and Safety inspection by Huntingdonshire District Council in 2014 failed to notice these shortcomings in the zoo's tiger system, method statement and risk assessments_ A ZLA periodic inspection in 2016 simply failed to take place at all 5.4.4 heard evidence that since Rosa's death; The zoo has introduced a radio call system requiring the tiger keeper to confirm the tiger slide position before entering any part of the tiger enclosure. The zoo has improved its method statement for working with tigers and its risk assessments_ Huntingdonshire District Council has improved the system for programming zoo licensing inspections_ have sought to establish a network of animal experts and others with experience in health and matters within the Local Authority enforcement sector to improve the standard of their inspection regime_ 5.4.5 heard evidence that leading HSE publications to which Zoo ownerslmanagers might turn for advice on risk assessment made little or no reference to human factors risks. Those risks are not specifically addressed in the current DEFRA guidance_ heard expert evidence from (ergonomics team, HSE Science Division) that it would be of benefit if these risks were given higher profile, including in HSE publications online: 5.4.6 In light of the aforesaid, am concerned that there is an ongoing risk nationally that systems for entering tiger enclosures may be entirely dependent or overly-dependent on reliability of individual zoo keepers without sufficient account being taken of the risk of human failures. Further, such risks may not be being effectively addressed by zoo inspections nor sufficiently publicised in DEFRA and HSE guidance This carries a risk of further deaths_

Responses

2 respondents

Department for Environment Food Rural Affairs

government_department

Letter dated 19 Dec 2019 PDF

AI-classified response stance Action Planned

AI-generated response summary

• Defra stated it would revise the Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice (SSSMZP) to establish clear, legally enforceable obligations. • Defra indicated that consultation on the revised SSSMZP and associated licensing documentation would launch over the summer. • Defra confirmed that publication of the revised SSSMZP is expected no later than the end of 2020, following advice from the Zoos Expert Committee to allow for wider expert engagement.

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Dear Mr Moss, Regulation 28: Report to Prevent Future Deaths in relation to Rosa King I am writing to you regarding our letter of 4 September 2019 in response to your 'Report to Prevent Future Deaths', dated 12 July 2019. I wish to update you on the timeline for revising the Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice (SSSMZP), which we had committed in our response to update by spring 2020. Defra is committed to addressing the issues raised in the Regulation 28 report by creating a robust set of standards which place clear, legally enforceable obligations on zoos, and which are reflected in the zoo inspection reporting process. As set out in our response, the SSSMZP are developed by working closely with the Zoos Expert Committee (ZEC), an advisory body whose purpose is to provide independent, impartial and expert advice to Defra. Defra is working at pace in order to have the new set of standards published by the timescale. However, Defra has been advised strongly by ZEC to allow more time to engage fully with a wider range of experts to ensure that the new SSSMZP meet the intended objectives of securing public safety and improving animal welfare. To allow for the above, we now expect that the consultation on the revised SSSMZP and associated licensing documentation, including the inspection reports and the Guide to the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, will be launched over the summer and publication will take place no later than the end of 2020.

DEFRA Update July

government_department

Letter dated 10 Jul 2025 PDF

AI-classified response stance Action Taken

AI-generated response summary

• New Standards of Modern Zoo Practice were published on 24 May 2025, classifying tigers as 'highest risk' and requiring zoos to keep suitable firearms and ammunition on premises with trained staff available and quarterly training. • The new Standards mandate double-door systems for enclosures of 'highest risk' animals, including tigers, where there is a reasonable risk of escape. • The new Standards require documented Safe Systems of Work for hazardous animals, including communication systems for lone working, and Defra will update inspection templates and train inspectors to assess compliance.

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Dear Mr Moss, Regulation 28: Report to Prevent Future Deaths in relation to Rosa King I am writing to provide you with a final update on the actions Defra have taken in response to your Regulation 28 report ‘Report to Prevent Future Deaths’ dated 12 July 2019 following the death of Rosa King at Hamerton Zoo (hereafter ‘the Report’). The Report set out your conclusion that there was a need for clearer guidance and more robust inspection processes to protect individuals working with tigers in zoos and to protect the public from the risk that would be caused if a tiger escaped. While the Report is confined to the risks from tigers you asked to consider the desirability of taking action in relation to other animals carrying high risk of fatality in the event of keeper contact and/or animal escape.

At the time, my predecessor wrote to you explaining what Defra’s plans were, in regard to updating the Secretary of State’s Standards of Modern Zoo Practice (SSSMZP) and how we needed to consult on any such changes. My predecessor also wrote to you subsequently to explain a number of delays in taking forward the work of updating the SSSMZP, not least the need to postpone stakeholder engagement due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

I can confirm that between 1 March 2022 and 21 June 2022 Defra undertook a targeted consultation on draft new Standards of Modern Zoo Practice for Great Britain (hereafter the ‘new Standards’). Defra consulted zoos, animal keepers, welfare groups, local authorities and worked with the UK Zoos Expert Committee, an advisory body whose purpose is to provide independent, impartial and expert advice to Defra and UK zoo Ministers, on the new Standards. Following the consultation we have also undertaken extensive further stakeholder engagement to enable us to introduce clearer new

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Standards, which will replace the SSSMZP in England and Scotland and the 2004 National Assembly for Wales’ Standards of Modern Zoo Practice in Wales.

The new Standards were published on 24 May 2025. Zoos have been given 24 months to adapt to the new Standards. Further detail on how the new Standards address the relevant actions highlighted in the Report is covered below.

Conventional Firearms

S. 6.2. DEFRA and the HSE have the power to take action to provide further / better guidance on the need for zoos holding tigers to possess and have access to conventional firearms to shoot tigers if necessary for the preservation of human life.

Defra consulted on new Standards that required that any zoo keeping a Category 1 listed primate, carnivore, elephant or hoofed mammal must ensure that suitable and sufficient firearms and ammunition, appropriate for the species housed, are kept on the zoo premises for use by authorised staff to kill escaped animals. We also consulted on a new requirement that at least 1 member of staff who is licensed and trained in the use of firearms must be available on the zoo premises during operational hours and must be able to attend the premises within 20 minutes outside of operational hours. We also consulted on requiring zoos to ensure all members of the zoo’s firearms team undergo quarterly training. We also liaised with the police authority and the Home Office in relation to their role in applying new requirements, e.g. in terms of applications from zoos for firearms licences.

After considering the results of the consultation, and further extensive stakeholder engagement, the new Standards, published on 24 May 2025, introduced a new higher category of hazardous animal – Category 1A ‘Highest Risk’. Tigers are now listed as a Category 1A ‘highest risk’ species. The new Standards require that any zoo keeping a Category 1A or Category 1 listed primate, terrestrial member of the order Carnivora, elephant or hoofed mammal, must ensure that suitable and sufficient firearms and ammunition, appropriate for the species housed, are kept on the zoo premises for use by authorised staff. At least one member of staff who is licensed and trained in the use of firearms must be available on the zoo premises during operational hours and must be able to attend the premises within 20 minutes outside of operational hours. Firearms training must be undertaken on a quarterly basis (four times per year) as a minimum.

We have included a transitional period of 24 months from the publication of the new Standards to ensure zoos have time to obtain a firearms licence where needed.

S. 6.3. Defra has the power to take action to ensure that the need for zoos holding tigers to have access to conventional firearms is robustly assessed in ZLA

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inspections carried out nationally by both inspectors nominated by the Secretary of State and those inspectors employed by Local Authorities as the enforcing body for health and safety in zoos.

Defra will now ensure that the standard zoo inspection report templates are updated in line with the requirements in the new Standards as set out in point (6.2) above. During the inspection process the inspector will be expected to confirm that zoos with any Category 1A or Category 1 listed primate, terrestrial member of the order Carnivora, elephant or hoofed mammal have suitable and sufficient firearms and ammunition, appropriate for the species housed, kept on the zoo premises for use by authorised staff, and that at least one member of staff who is licensed and trained in the use of firearms is available on the zoo premises during operational hours and is able to attend the premises within 20 minutes outside of operational hours. Additionally, the inspector should look for evidence that every person licensed to use a firearm and each member of the firearms team (if different) receives structured training and that their competency is assessed by a suitably qualified person. The inspector will also be expected to check that firearms training is being undertaken on a quarterly basis (four times per year) as a minimum.

If a zoo does not meet these requirements, following the new Standards coming into effect on 24 May 2027, inspectors should recommend to the licensing authority that the zoo is in breach of their zoo licence and that the zoo could be served with an enforcement notice requiring the situation to be rectified within a set period. The inspector may also recommend to the licensing authority that the zoo (or part of it) be closed while the situation is rectified. If the zoo fails to comply then the zoo could be closed permanently.

Before the new Standards come into force, Defra will also be providing training to those inspectors nominated by the Secretary of State to ensure they are familiar with the new firearms requirements.

Absence of air-lock type double keeper gates

S. 6.4. Defra and the HSE have the power to take action to provide further / better guidance on the need for double keeper gates to be fitted to tiger enclosures.

Defra consulted on new Standards that required that the keeper entrance for enclosures for any category 1 listed primate, carnivore, elephant or hoofed mammal must consist of a double air-lock type gate or door system. We also consulted on requiring procedures or mechanisms to be put in place to make sure that only one of these doors is open at any time.  

After considering the results of the consultation, and further extensive stakeholder engagement, the new Standards, published on 24 May 2025, introducing the new higher

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category of hazardous animal – Category 1A ‘Highest Risk’ mentioned above, require that: “Where a portal opens directly into an enclosure, and the animal's behaviour and natural biology dictates a reasonable risk of escape, and that animal may be hazardous to the public or environment, there must be a double-door system in place to prevent escape from the enclosure.”

Procedures or mechanisms must be in place to make sure that only one of the doors is open at any time, and the inner (direct into the enclosure) gates or doors must open into the enclosure rather than outwards into the zoo. The animals covered by this requirement include any Category 1A or Category 1 listed primates or terrestrial carnivores, any Species of Special Concern (invasive non-native species); and all other flying mammals and birds, unless a risk assessment dictates that double-door systems are not required, and this has been confirmed by written agreement with the Licensing Authority.

We have included a transitional period of 24 months from the publication of the new Standards to ensure zoos have time to make alterations to any relevant enclosures.

S. 6.5. Defra has the power to take action to ensure that the need for zoos holding tigers to have double keeper gates fitted to tiger enclosures is robustly assessed in ZLA inspections carried out nationally by both inspectors nominated by the Secretary of State and those inspectors employed by Local Authorities as the enforcing body for health and safety in zoos.

Defra will ensure that the zoo inspection report templates are updated in line with the new Standards as set out in point (6.4) above. If a zoo does not meet these requirements of the new Standards by the time they come into effect on 23, the inspector should recommend to the licensing authority that the zoo is in breach of their zoo licence and could be served with an enforcement notice requiring the situation to be rectified within a set period. The inspector may also recommend to the licensing authority that the zoo (or part of it) be closed while the situation is rectified. If the zoo fails to comply then the zoo could be closed permanently. Before the new Standards come into force, Defra will also be providing training to those inspectors nominated by the Secretary of State to ensure they are familiar with the new double door requirements.

Working hours / night-time hand rearing work for keepers working with tigers

6.7. Defra and the HSE have the power to take action to provide guidance on the risks involved in tigers keepers being involved in hand-rearing of animals during the night, while doing safety-critical work by day.

6.8. Defra has the power to take action to ensure that the risks associated with nighttime hand-rearing of animals being conducted by those doing safety-critical

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work with the highest risk category of animals is robustly assessed in ZLA inspections carried out nationally by both inspectors nominated by the Secretary of State and those inspectors employed by Local Authorities as the enforcing body for health and safety in zoos.

We consider that the requirement for double-door systems for enclosures of Category 1A or Category 1 listed primates or terrestrial carnivores, along with a documented ‘Safe System of Work (SSOW) – as set out in 6.9 below - should mitigate the risks posed to public safety by human error due to worker fatigue.

As explained in ’s letter of 4 September 2019, we believe that in relation to the risks posed to keepers as a result of worker fatigue, these fall outside the remit of the new Standards and the zoo inspection process. Licensing Authorities are prohibited by section 5(7) of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 from attaching conditions to a licence that "…relate only or primarily to the health, safety or welfare of persons working in the zoo".

However, BIAZA’s (the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums) Health and Safety Guidelines for Zoos and Aquariums (2020) – written with the support of the HSE - addresses the issue of working hours for keepers and others working with animals.  The Guidelines advise keepers’ working hours should be monitored to ensure keepers have sufficient time away from work, so they are rested and alert whilst with the animals. 

Risk of fatalities from systems that are solely dependent on the human reliability of tiger keepers

6.9. Defra and the HSE have the power to take action to publicise and provide better / further guidance on:

· The human factor risks for zoo keepers working with tigers; · The unacceptability of having the human reliability and training of individual tiger keepers as the only control measure for safe entry into tiger enclosures.

Defra consulted on new Standards that updated requirements on public safety with a proposed new requirement on zoos to have a documented Safe Operating Procedure (SOP) where an enclosure contained any (then) category 1 or 2 listed hazardous animals. The SOP must outline all aspects of the safe operation of the enclosure, which staff must follow. Where the enclosure contained (then) category 1 listed animals and lone working occurred, there must be a system of communication to other staff members when a member of the team enters the enclosure and exits the enclosure, and a procedure as part of the SOP with steps to be taken if there is a failure of notification within an expected time period. 

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After considering the results of the consultation, and further extensive stakeholder engagement, the new Standards, published on 24 May 2025, introducing the new higher category of hazardous animal – Category 1A ‘Highest Risk’ mentioned above, require that: “Where an enclosure contains Category 1A, Category 1 or Category 2 listed animals, there must be a documented Safe System of Work (SSOW) in place that outlines all aspects of the safe operation of the enclosure, which staff must follow. For each hazardous species, a risk assessment must be conducted and used as the basis for formulating a SSOW for that species. Staff responsible for working with hazardous animals must be trained in following the SSOWs and such training must be recorded.”

Where an enclosure contains Category 1A or Category 1 listed animals and lone working occurs, there must be a system of communication to other staff members when a member of the team enters, and exits, the enclosure, as part of the SSOW with steps to be taken if there is a failure of notification within a defined time period as documented in the SSOW.

We consider that the requirement for double door systems for enclosures of Category 1A or Category 1 listed primates or terrestrial carnivores, along with a documented SSOW and implementation of a lone worker policy for keepers should be sufficient to mitigate the risks posed by human reliability factors.

6.10. Defra has the power to take action to ensure that systems for entering tiger enclosures that are solely dependent upon the human reliability /training of individual keepers are identified and corrected as part of ZLA inspections carried out nationally by both inspectors nominated by the Secretary of State and those inspectors employed by Local Authorities as the enforcing body for health and safety in zoos

Defra will ensure that the zoo inspection report templates are updated in line with the requirements in the new Standards as set out in point (6.9) above. During inspections the inspector should look for evidence that the zoo has in place a documented SSOW for keepers working with all Category 1A, Category 1 or Category 2 listed animals. The inspector should look for evidence that the SSOW is implemented and that the zoo has implemented a programme of regular staff training for staff working with Category 1A, Category 1 or Category 2 listed animals.

If a zoo does not meet these requirements, following the coming into effect of the new Standards, the inspector should recommend to the licensing authority that the zoo is in breach of their zoo licence and could be served with an enforcement notice requiring the situation to be rectified within a set period. The inspector may also recommend to the licensing authority that the zoo (or part of it) be closed while the situation is rectified. If the zoo fails to comply then the zoo could be closed permanently.

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The new Standards are published on Standards of modern zoo practice - GOV.UK. The current Standards will remain in effect until 23 May 2027.

If you have any questions about the new Standards please contact the lead policy official at Defra.

Report sections

Investigation and inquest

On 30 May 2017, the Senior Coroner commenced an investigation into the death of ROSA ANN KING, aged 33. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 10 2019. The conclusion of the inquest was: Medical Cause of Death: 1a traumatic injuries How, when and where the deceased came by her death: Rosa King was the senior carnivore keeper at Hamerton Zoological Park, Hamerton, near Sawtry , Cambridgeshire_ On 29 May 2017 , at sometime between 09.38
a.m. and 10.45
a.m she died when she was attacked by the Malayan Tiger, as she went to exit the Zoo's Malayan tiger paddock She entered the paddock when all the tiger slides between the tiger paddock and the tiger den were open_ There was no mechanical failure with the keeper or the tiger slides and associated_pulleys July Cicip, gates

The system for a keeper entering any part of the tiger enclosure required the tiger to be excluded that area by a tiger slide before the keeper entered: That system depended entirely on the keeper reliably following their training: Conclusion of the as to the death: Accident.

Circumstances of the death

4.1 Background. Rosa King (Rosa) was a senior and experienced zoo keeper with 13 years' experience_ of which 8 had been as head of the zoo's carnivore section. All the evidence suggested that she was conscientious about safety, instructed others in safety regarding the tiger enclosure, and was fully aware of the importance of never entering any part of the tiger enclosures if a tiger was present: 4.2 Working hours night-time hand-rearing work for keepers working with tigers Rosa's summertime working hours were 45 hours per week, with a six working week_ She worked 9.5 hours overtime in the month leading up to her death: In addition; she volunteered to hand-rear a serval kitten belonging to the zoo, which had been abandoned by its mother: From 22 May the kitten required feeding/care roughly three hours. Rosa took care of the kitten for 14 nights between 1 - with a pattern of feeds at (roughly) 10/1 pm, 2/3 am, and 6/7
a.m, Each feed might take only 10 minutes_ From 22 29 May_ the night-time feeding regime reduced to a feed at about midnight and 6 am Rosa did 4 of these reduced night time feeds in the week before her death, including on the Saturday and Sunday nights before her death on Monday 29 2017. Whilst a significant number of witnesses stated that Rosa was her normal cheerful self on the morning of her death, there was some evidence that she was tired. 4.3 The safety system in brief outline. On the day of the accident; Rosa had entered the tiger paddock to clean the windows of the visitor building within the tiger enclosure The process to be followed for this task involved checking where the tigers were physically located; isolating them into one of the areas away from the paddock by use of one of the vertical (guillotine-type) tiger slides; checking the slides were in place; before then entering the paddock 4.4 The immediate circumstances. When Rosa entered the paddock, the critical slide that should have been closed was in fact locked in the open position. It is possible that Rosa had left that slide open the evening before_ and then failed to notice that it was open before entering the paddock on the Monday morning: There was good visibility of the slide's position both the tiger service area and the metal security that gave entry to the paddock. Despite knowing the system well, and knowing the risks, Rosa entered the paddock when the critical slide was in the open position: There was no evidence that she would have done SO knowinglyldeliberately and post-mortem toxicology was entirely normal. The jury's conclusion reflects that this was an accidental omission on Rosa's part: However: Dependence on human reliability for a safety-critical task: The system for safe entry into the tiger enclosure depended entirely on the keeper following their training: All the control measures to reduce the risk of a fatal tiger attack depended on the reliability of the keeper. The inquest heard evidence from an HSE human factors expert that training, on its own, is not an effective measure to reduce the risks of slips, lapses or violations. Further, that in relation to a task with a risk of single or multiple fatalities, human actions should not be solely relied on to control the hazard unless as a final resort Fatigue: It is possible (though it could not be said on the evidence to be probable) that work-induced tiredness was a contributory factor: 4.5 Absence_of_air-lock_type_double_keeper to the tiger_paddock For the from Jury day every May, May May from gate gates keeper entry into the tiger enclosure, the zoo did not have tiger-secure double gate system installed at the entrance that Rosa used, There was only one tiger-secure metal entry gate leading into the paddock While there was a second gate in this area, it was a wooden gate within a wooden fence which was not designed to keep the tigers in, merely to keep the public away from the tiger service area. Further ad in any event; when keepers accessed the tiger service area before the public were admitted to the zoo, they would often leave the wooden gate open behind them 4.6 When Rosa went through the wooden gate on the of her death (sometime after 9.38 am), she left it open behind her in accordance with this practice_ She would have entered the paddock through the metal security gate and closed it behind her, failing on this occasion to notice the fact that the critical tiger slide was in the open position. Rosa then went to clean the windows on the outside of the visitor building within the paddock. Having done so, as she opened the metal secure gate to leave Cicip attacked her causing multiple traumatic injuries, which were rapidly fatal. 4.7 The further risk to life caused by the open gates. There was then a very serious risk of casualties and fatalities to the public. metal gate and wooden gate were both open. For a period of not less than 15 minutes, and possibly as long as hour and 20 minutes_ Cicip could simply have walked out of the tiger enclosure into the public areas, where families with children had already been admitted. In fact, Cicip remained in the paddock. It was thus largely by chance and by the later action of a zoo visitor and members of staff (the staff acted quickly to close both gates when Rosa's body was eventually seen at about 11 am that morning), that the risk of multiple casualties fatalities to the public did not in fact materialise. Members of the public including children had congregated by the open wooden gate. They could easily have been killed. tiger-secure double gate entry system into the tiger paddock would very likely have prevented this risk of public casualties/fatalities: 4.8 Lack of conventional firearms held by the zoo. Cicip was enticed back into his den by zoo staff and in the event did not need to be killed. At the time of the accident; however_ the zoo did not possess any conventional firearms_ By a historic arrangement with police_ the zoo relied upon police firearms officers attending should a firearm be needed to shoot an escaped tiger: The only firearm held by the zoo was a form of dart gun which is of limited range and which, even if successfully deployed, would take some time (in the order of 15 minutes) for the medication so administered to incapacitate the tiger. Accordingly, had Cicip walked through the open into the public area, limiting the human casualties would likely have depended upon the response time of authorised firearms officers, who could not be guaranteed to be close to the rural area in which the zoo is located,

Action should be taken

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe that: Conventional firearms 6.1 Jf Hamerton Zoo and the Chief Constable of Cambridgeshire Constabulary between them have the power to take action to speed up the steps necessary for the zoo to obtain suitable conventional firearms and ensure that a suitable number of zoo staff are licensed and trained in the use of such weapons: see paragraphs 5.1.1 ~ 5.1.3 above. 6.2 DEFRA and the HSE have the power to take action to provide further better guidance on the need for zoos holding tigers to possess and have access to conventional firearms to shoot tigers if necessary for the preservation of human life: see paragraph 5.1.4 -5.1.5 above_ 6.3 DEFRA and the Local Government Association have the power to take action to ensure that the need for zoos holding tigers to have access to conventional firearms_is_robustly assed in ZLA_inspections _ carried out_nationally by both every Tiger entry due They safety the inspectors nominated by the Secretary of State and those inspectors employed by Local Authorities as the enforcing body for health and safety in zooS_ See paragraph 5.1.4 above. Absence of air-lock type_double keeper gates 6.4 DEFRA and the HSE have the power to take action to provide further better guidance on the need for double keeper to be fitted to tiger enclosures. See paragraphs 5.2.3 5.2.4, 5.2.6 above: 6.5 DEFRA and the Local Government Association have the power to take action to ensure that the need for zoos holding tigers to have double keeper gates fitted to tiger enclosures is robustly assed in ZLA inspections carried out nationally by both inspectors nominated by the Secretary of State and those inspectors employed by Local Authorities as the enforcing body for health and safety zoos_ See paragraphs 5.25-5.26 above Working_hours night-time _hand-rearing work for keepers working with_tigers 6.6 of Hamerton Zoo and of Sphere Health and Safety Management Ltd have the power t0 take further action to take advice assess, ad reduce the risk of tiger keepers at Hamerton Zoo working during the night in the hand-rearing of animals, having regard to best practice for working patterns/hours for those engaged in critical tasks carrying a risk of fatalities See paragraphs 5.3.1 5.3.3, above_ 6.7 DEFRA, the HSE and the Local Government Association have the power to take action to provide guidance on the risks involved in tiger keepers involved in hand-rearing of animals during the night; while safety-critical work by day: See paragraph 5.3.4, above 6.8 DEFRA and the Local Government Association have the power to take action to ensure that the risks associated with night-time hand-rearing of animals being conducted by those safety-critical work with the highest risk category of animals is robustly assessed in ZLA inspections carried out nationally by both inspectors nominated by the Secretary of State and those inspectors employed by Local Authorities as the enforcing body for health and safety in zoos_ See paragraph 5.3.4 above. Risk of_fatalities_from systems_that are solely dependent on_the_human reliability of Tiger Keepers 6.9 DEFRA, the HSE and the Local Government Association have the power to take action to publicise and provide further better guidance on: the human factor risks for zoo keepers working with tigers; unacceptability of having the human reliability and training of individual tiger keepers as the only control measure for safe into tiger enclosures_ See paragraph 5.4.5 above 6.10 DEFRA and the Local Government Association have the power to take action to ensure that systems for entering tiger enclosures that are solely dependent upon the human reliability training of individual keepers are identified and corrected as part of ZLA inspections carried out nationally by both inspectors nominated by the Secretary of State and those inspectors employed by Local Authorities as the enforcing body for health and safety in zoos See paragraph 5.4.6 above_

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Report details

Reference: 2019-0239
Date of report: 12 July 2019
Coroner: Nicholas Moss
Coroner area: Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

Responses identified

Responses identified 2 of 6

4 responses not yet linked

Organisations named in PFD reports are normally expected to respond within 56 days. Deadline: 13 Nov 2019 (estimated from the Judiciary.uk publication date).

Sent to

Cambridgeshire Constabulary

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Hamerton Zoological Park

Health and Safety Executive

Local Government Association

Sphere Risk Health & Safety Management Ltd

Source links

Judiciary.uk page → Report PDF →

Data: judiciary.uk.

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