(A) Prevention of animal escape is an integral component in escape procedures. Prevention entails the maintenance of the integrity of the facilities and the practice of appropriate husbandry techniques. Inherent to the operation, a zoo exhibits animals that are considered an immediate threat to human life if they were to escape. Certainly, the escape of any animal can be a very serious matter if not handled in a strategic and timely fashion.
(B) The actual response to an animal escape will vary depending upon type of animal, time of day, and place of escape. The goal of each response is recapture of the animal without injury to the animal, staff, or public. While even the most dangerous animals may be successfully returned to their enclosures if appropriate procedures are followed, all escapes can entail risk to the animal, personnel, or public.
(C) If a potentially dangerous animal escapes:
(1) Notify all employees of the escape and calmly evacuate all persons to the nearest building away from the area of disturbance. Instruct them to stay until notified by the zoo staff that it is safe to exit. Make certain that all windows and doors are closed and locked.
(2) Close and lock all gates and guard if possible.
(3) The Chatham Police Department shall be notified that an animal has escaped, and supplied with details on what animal has escaped, and the last known location. Police officers will not take part in the recapture. The police function will be to provide crowd control and notification of neighboring areas to remain indoors. They may also assist in communications with other emergency personnel. If the animal, in the Police Departments judgement, is a direct and immediate threat to human life, the police force will assist, order or carry out the destruction of the animal.
(4) Zoo personnel should try to keep the animal under surveillance from a safe distance or a vehicle, never place your safety in danger. Always move slowly and back out of any situation involving a predatory animal. Keep in mind that most animals, if not severely panicked after escape, will try to go back to their exhibits on their own. Never chase an escaped animal, you want the animal to stay near the exhibit and remain unfrightened. An attempt will be made to slowly drive the animal towards a corral or exhibit, confine it until it is immobilized, or otherwise manually regain control over it.
(5) Once the animal is recaptured, the zoo director will transmit an all clear signal to zoo personnel. Zoo staff will inform non-zoo personnel that the situation is again normal. The senior police officer will account for all personnel involved in the operation and will designate a squad to check the area involved for injured persons and damage.
(Ord. 91-41, passed 9-10-91)