Samantha Ward

Role

Samantha Ward is a Professor of Zoo Animal Welfare & Legislation, part of NTU's School of Animal, Rural and Environmental Sciences (ARES).

Sam sits as the Welfare Expert on the Zoo Experts Committee as part of Defra, advising the UK Government on UK zoo matters, including re-writing the Secretary State Standards for Modern Zoo Practice and the Zoo Licensing Act.

She is the Research Advisor for the Charity ‘Wild Welfare’ and sits on the Zoological Society of London (ZSL)'s Zoo Welfare and Ethics Committee.

Sam offers consultancy expertise in:

• Zoo Animal Welfare includes but not limited to exhibit/environment design, assessment, animal-based measures, evidence-based practice.
• Zoo Education Provision - including but not limited to setting up zoo education programs, provision of education material, signage.
• Zoo Animal Behaviour – assessment and dealing with behavioural issues, environmental enrichment provision & assessment.
• Zoo Legislation (UK and EU) – adherence to standards and legislative requirements, zoo inspection compliance.

Sam currently supervises the following PhD Candidates:

• Bridget  Johnson: Connecting people to nature: Are there psychological health and wellbeing benefits to visiting zoos?
• Hannah Jenkins: Zoological species collection management and how to facilitate species conservation.
• Thomas Welsh:  Are there benefits from human-animal interactions? Implications for human health, well-being and animal welfare.
• Julia Machado:  Facial expressions, cognitive bias and welfare indicators in zoo-housed primates.
• Jack  Lewton: Using AI to monitor zoo animal welfare
• Eileen ‘Kat’ Tuit: Fostering enrichment in Zoos (Partnered with Darwin University, Australia).

Career overview

Sam has both practical and managerial zoo-industry expertise as well as an academic objective standing in research. Sam has worked as a zoo animal keeper and head of section of various hoofstock, primate and macropod species.

She completed an MSc in Animal Behaviour and went on to complete a PhD in Animal Behaviour and Welfare. Following this, she was a zoo conservation and research manager with collection planning & transportation, inspection, quarantine, and studbook management responsibilities.

External activity

• Zoo Animal Welfare Specialist on Defra's Zoo Experts Committee
• Research Advisor to Wild Welfare
• Committee member of the Zoological Society of London (ZSL)'s Zoo Welfare and Ethics Committee.

Sponsors and collaborators

Current and recent work is being undertaken with the collaboration of:

• Professor Geoff Hosey, University of Bolton, UK - 'Retired'
• Professor Vicky Melfi, Harpury University, UK
• Professor Francoise Wemelsfelder, SRUC, UK
• Dr Sally Sherwen, Zoos Victoria, Australia
• Dr Sonya Hill, University of Chester, UK
• Dr Nicole Dorey, University of Florida, USA
• Dr Andrew Moss, Chester Zoo, UK