Keeping ‘beasts’ becomes crime

TDT | Manama

Email: mail@newsofbahrain.com

Fines of BD1,000-BD10,000 and jail await anyone keeping dangerous animals without a licence, under a bill heading to Parliament that bans private ownership and limits the species to zoos, parks, circuses and research centres.

The draft bars taking such animals into public places or walking them outside authorised facilities.

Penalties rise where harm follows. Using a dangerous animal to attack a person would carry three to seven years in prison if a permanent disability results, and life imprisonment if the victim dies.

If injury or death is unintended, the Penal Code rules on accidental killing or injury apply.

Confiscation

Courts may also order confiscation of the animal, with the keeper or facility meeting custody costs.

Private ownership by natural or legal persons would be prohibited, with exceptions for licensed facilities and for government, security and military bodies, on condition that the animals they hold are registered with the competent authorities.

Licensed facilities must register each animal in an official record, provide veterinary care, build safe housing, prevent escape or loss and supply appropriate feed.

Facilities

Shows and transfers between facilities or across the Kingdom would need prior permission from the competent department, and transport must meet technical standards.

Anyone who finds a dangerous animal roaming or abandoned must inform the ministry at once.

The ministry may seize and shelter the animal and recover costs from those responsible.

Licensed facilities must report births and deaths, any epidemic disease, any escape and any case in which an animal causes injury or death, with incidents recorded officially.

Ministry staff

Enforcement would rest with designated ministry staff who may enter facilities, inspect and issue violations.

The ministry could confiscate animals or revoke licences for breaches.

Corporate criminal liability would apply, with fines up to BD20,000 for offences committed in the name of or for the account of an entity.

Other offences include causing panic using animals or breaching core articles, punishable by imprisonment or fines up to BD10,000.

Bill

The bill defines ‘dangerous animals’ as creatures capable of causing direct harm to people or other animals, distinguishes ‘predatory’ from ‘semi-dangerous’ species and tasks the competent minister with issuing a detailed list.

‘Possession’ is defined broadly to include anyone who owns, keeps or raises a dangerous animal, even on a temporary basis.

‘Trade’ covers sale, export, transport and promotion under the ministry responsible for animal resources.

Parliament’s Public Utilities and Environment Committee will begin its study.

Database

The aims are to bolster public safety, protect people and other animals, set care standards for dangerous species and establish an official database of facilities and animals.

Licence and service fees would be set by ministerial order after Cabinet approval.

A six-month transition would precede enforcement to allow keepers and facilities to regularise their status.