Zoo to discuss court's suggestion of Savannah as ‘environmentally sensitive area’

The Zoological Society is set to meet on Wednesday to discuss the recent Court of Appeal ruling in which judges suggested the Queen’s Park Savannah should be designated an environmentally sensitive area.

The court upheld an appeal by the Environmental Management Authority (EMA) against a judicial review ruling by Justice Margaret Mohammed in a claim by fete promoter Wild Goose Ltd against the EMA and Snr Supt Garth Nelson.

Wild Goose brought the claim after the EMA shut down its Tailgate Carnival event at the Queen’s Park Savannah on February 26, 2019, two hours early for breaches to noise levels.

Mohammed initially ruled in Wild Goose’s favour, but the EMA challenged the ruling in the Appeal Court.

Justices of Appeal Allan Mendonca, Prakash Moosai and Gillian Lucky declined to award the promoter any damages, deeming the noise generated by the fete as a “public nuisance.”

Moosai said the case highlighted the potential distress facing animals at the Emperor Valley Zoo and added, “Serious consideration should therefore be given by the EMA to its express power to designate a defined area as an ‘environmentally sensitive area’ under section 41 of the act.”

General secretary of the Zoological Society Brent Pedro told Newsday the society intended to discuss the matter on Wednesday before issuing a press release.