Zoos urge Defra to tackle red tape preventing rare animal transfers

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) is joining zoo conservationists from across the UK and Europe in calling for urgent change to legislation which is stopping endangered animals like rhinos, giraffes and bison from participating in vital conservation programmes.  

The problems relate to legislation which was introduced in 2024 to prevent the spread of the Bluetongue virus. The new rules require, among other things, for some imported animals (ungulates) to spend 30 days in sealed, insect-proof quarantine facilities. But there is no clear guidance on what such facilities must include, and experts warn these measures are neither practical or humane for large animals.  

David Field, CEO of RZSS, said: “Zoos play an important role in global breeding programmes for endangered animals, acting as a safety net for threatened species. The transfer of animals since Britain left the EU has been extremely challenging but this new legislation is making matters much worse.” 

RZSS recently sent its last remaining rhino, Qabid, from Edinburgh Zoo to Eindhoven, as part of the European Endangered Species Programme (EEP). In the past, two juvenile rhinos would then arrive at Edinburgh to live until they are old enough to become breeding adults. However, the new legislation is significantly complicating that process.  

Representatives from the UK and European zoo community have written to DEFRA to ask for the current rules to be amended, for exemptions to be permitted, and for clear, achievable guidance for quarantine facilities and transport to be provided. The letter was signed by the chief executives of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), the Zoological Society of London (ZSL), and the executive director of the European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA). 

David Field added: “We fully support measures to protect the UK from infectious diseases and have a long history of working with the government to ensure biosecurity standards are met. But the rules must work in practice. When animals are forced to stay in habitats for longer than they should it can be bad for their welfare. It can also prove very costly and time-consuming for zoos, potentially making it impossible to participate in breeding programmes. 

“We want to work with DEFRA to find solutions that protect conservation programmes and the welfare of animals. It’s our mission to save wildlife and empower people in Scotland and around the world to protect, value and love nature.”  

The EU and UK announced in May 2025 that it would be working towards a Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Agreement, which will significantly ease the movement of live animals, including zoo animals, between them by reducing complex paperwork and border checks. Although this news has been welcomed by zoos and aquariums, it remains to be seen when the agreement will come into effect and if it will improve matters.