Business Continuity Plan and Disaster Management Planning for Animals Within Zoo Enclosure: A Malaysia Perspective

Abstract

Zoological parks have been linked to various potential calamities, including the inadvertent release of animal species on a regular basis. To mitigate the risk of animals escaping from these parks, it is crucial to assess the security of animal enclosures and identify the factors that may compromise their integrity. Furthermore, natural disasters pose an ongoing threat to public safety, and in such emergency situations, both animals and humans are vulnerable to harm, potentially endangering public safety. Lastly, the possibility of zoonotic diseases and their transmission among humans through direct or indirect contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces poses a significant threat to both the animals and the human staff working in the zoo. This paper will be looking at the three possible disasters and how to mitigate such disasters from happening in Malaysian zoos. Another matter that will be highlighted is the roles and responsibilities of authorities, communication plus testing and training. The Business Continuity Plan (BCP) will be used by the authorities to respond to each scenario, based on which business processes or assets get disrupted and to understand the scale and scope of what they are facing. Risk mitigation factors are also highlighted in this article.