UK Zoos Set for Major Overhaul to Boost Animal Welfare
By Jill Dando News
Zoos and aquariums across Great Britain will see their animal welfare standards modernised for the first time in over a decade, following the launch of new government rules designed to strengthen protections and improve conditions for animals in captivity.
The updated Standards of Modern Zoo Practice aim to maintain the UK’s reputation as a global leader in ethical zoo management.
Key changes include larger enclosures for elephants, an end to long-term tethering of birds of prey, and a ban on visitor handling of sensitive marine species like stingrays and octopuses—acknowledging their high intelligence and stress responses.
These reforms will also raise conservation standards with clearer requirements for record-keeping, breeding programs for endangered species, and restrictions on sourcing animals from the wild.
Kathryn England, Chief Operating Officer for ZSL, the international conservation charity behind London and Whipsnade Zoos said:
These standards will help bring the whole sector up to a level the public rightly expects – and that animals everywhere deserve.
London and Whipsnade Zoos are conservation powerhouses, delivering world-leading animal care and driving global efforts to protect wildlife. We welcome these new Standards of Modern Zoo Practice and the clarity they bring - every animal in every UK zoo deserves the same high standard of care, and every zoo should be contributing meaningfully to conservation.
Animal Welfare Minister, Baroness Hayman said:
"We are a nation of animal lovers, and our best zoos and aquariums are truly world leaders in setting the standard for how wild animals should be kept.
Today’s long-overdue reforms lay the foundation for an even stronger, even more compassionate future for all zoos and aquariums —and the animals they protect. This is the first step as part of our commitment to deliver the most ambitious animal welfare reforms in a generation.
We’re making sure all sectors have the tools they need thrive, which is vital in our mission to deliver economic growth and make lives better for people across the country under our Plan for Change."
Public safety will be enhanced through updated protocols for handling dangerous animals, and all zoos must now have business continuity plans to safeguard animal care during financial hardship.
The new rules reflect the latest in global best practice and support a shift in public expectations—positioning zoos as vital centres for conservation, education, and world-class animal care.
Zoos and aquariums have two years to meet the new requirements, with phased timelines for certain species.
Support and guidance will be provided to ensure smooth implementation, reinforcing animal welfare as a core focus of the UK’s Plan for Change.
