STORY
The Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) has formally accepted the Zoos Expert Committee’s (ZEC) recommendations following its review of the Elephant Welfare Group’s (EWG) ten-year report, signalling fresh action to bolster the care of elephants in British zoos. In a letter dated 23 May 2025, Baroness Hayman of Ullock, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Animal Welfare and Biosecurity, thanked the committee for its thorough assessment and confirmed that, while welcome strides have been made, further measures are needed to ensure the highest standards of elephant well-being.
Baroness Hayman noted that, after consulting a broad spectrum of views—including calls both for phasing out elephant exhibits and for maintaining them under improved conditions—the committee concluded there was not yet sufficient evidence to end the practice of keeping elephants in the UK. “We are content to follow ZEC’s advice and consider other options available to continue the progress towards further improving the welfare of elephants in our zoos” she wrote, acknowledging that key issues remain outstanding.
To that end, Defra has outlined a four-point plan of action:
Revise elephant-specific standards: The Standards of Modern Zoo Practice will be updated to reflect the latest expert advice and responses to the 2022 consultation, ensuring clearer requirements for enclosure size, social groupings and enrichment activities.
Mandatory improvement plans: Each zoo housing elephants must develop and submit an “elephant improvement action plan,” detailing how it will comply with the revised standards well before they take effect.
Rigorous inspection: Zoo licensing inspectors will assess both the plans and their on-the-ground implementation at the frequency set out in the Zoo Licensing Act 1981, providing ongoing oversight.
Continued expert oversight: The Elephant Welfare Group will be asked to carry on its work and report back to ZEC every two years, placing a new emphasis on data collection and the refinement of welfare assessment tools.
In her letter to Professor Simon Girling, Chair of the Zoos Expert Committee, Baroness Hayman also invited the committee to develop a detailed action plan to guide the EWG’s next phase of work. She pledged to write separately to the chairs of the EWG to express ministers’ gratitude and to set out expectations for continued collaboration.
The announcement marks a significant moment for animal welfare in Britain, balancing the recognition of past progress with a clear mandate for further improvements. With formal standards under review and a strengthened framework for monitoring, elephants in UK zoos are set to benefit from a more structured and transparent approach to their care.