RESEARCH AT ZOOS AND AQUARIUMS - REGULATIONS AND REALITY

Institutions that exhibit animals and also engage in basic and/or appl ied research using collection animals are faced with complying with nu merous Federal regulations and institutional policies. Whether or not a zoo or aquarium is required to become a registered research facility , most of these institutions already have an internal research committ ee. Registration as a research facility under the Animal-Welfare Act r equires the establishment of an effective Institutional Animal Care an d Use Committee. We explore the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act , the role of the institution's own research committee, and some of th e problematic issues encountered while conducting zoo and aquarium ani mal related research.