UK Zoos Expert Committee (ZEC)

ZEC advises the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Scottish, Northern Irish, and Welsh Governments on zoo matters. This includes animal welfare, conservation, education, scientific research and public safety in zoos.

Terms of reference

The Zoos Expert Committee (ZEC) is an expert committee of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and the Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh Governments.

The Committee’s terms of reference are to provide independent, authoritative, impartial and timely advice, to Defra and the Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh Governments on:

  • the role of zoos in conservation, education and scientific research
  • the operation and implementation of the zoo licensing system in the UK
  • any other matters that might be considered necessary to improve standards in zoos

The Committee can, with the agreement of Defra and the Scottish, Northern Irish and Welsh Governments:

  • investigate any specific aspects of zoo policy and practice falling within its remit
  • consider any animal-related issue where there is a specific zoo interest and offer advice on animal welfare
  • seek and obtain advice from other persons or organisations with knowledge or experience relevant to the Committee’s work

Priorities

Current priorities are to:

Membership

All members sit in a personal expert capacity and do not represent any particular body. Members are selected for their expertise on areas such as conservation and education in zoos.

Members of this group are:

  • Professor Simon Girling FRCVS, Chair, Head of Veterinary Services, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland
  • Dr Samantha Ward, Senior Lecturer in Animal Science, Nottingham Trent University
  • Dr Campbell Murn, Head of Conservation and Research, Hawk Conservancy Trust and Lecturer, University of Reading
  • Dr Paul Rose, Lecturer in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter
  • Lucy Atherton, Lead Environmental Health Practitioner, Cheshire West and Chester Council
  • Dr Matthew Brash MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon and Zoo Inspector
  • Dr Jonathan Cracknell MRCVS, Veterinary Surgeon, Zoo Inspector and Head of Living Collections, Knowsley Safari Park
  • James Wright, Senior Curator, Sealife Aquarium London
  • Dr Charlotte McDonald, Director of Animals at Yorkshire Wildlife Park
  • Dr Alison Cronin MBE, Director, Monkey World Ape Rescue Centre
  • Rebecca Moore, Director, Colchester Zoo
  • Professor Hannah Buchanan-Smith, Head of the Behaviour and Evolution Research Group in Psychology, University of Stirling

Meeting summaries

Contact details

If you’ve questions about ZEC, email the Secretariat at zoos.branch@defra.gov.uk.

Further information

For further information, see:

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