New Role for RSPCA’s Head of Wildlife
The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee is the USA’s largest natural habitat refuge developed specifically for endangered Asian and African elephants.
During his time at the RSPCA, Rob has worked on a wide variety of animal welfare issues and changed the focus of the RSPCA’s work on the rehabilitation of injured wildlife, giving it a more ethical and science-based approach.
The RSPCA’s wildlife department played a crucial role in helping bring about an end to hunting with dogs and stopping a huge cull of badgers taking place, as well as achieving greater protection for primates kept as pets and animals used in entertainment.
Eight years ago Rob started the movement which brought the welfare problems of elephants in zoos to the public’s attention. There are now 25% fewer elephants in the UK’s zoos than there were in 2002 and 28% fewer zoos keeping them.
Rob said: “With my background in zoos and animal welfare organisation, I have worked with captive elephants for many years. I know that zoos and circuses often use the wrong approach, ignoring many of the basic facts about the way elephants live and what they need to be healthy. Elephants are complex, sensitive animals which deserve the best care, and for captive elephants in need, that place is the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. It is a true sanctuary of healing and refuge.”
Rob was born on a farm in rural England and grew up around animals. He took a degree in zoology at London University then worked through his Masters and a doctorate at Oxford before beginning his career in animal welfare at Woburn Safari Park.
RSPCA chief executive Mark Watts said: “Rob has provided leadership and vision to the teams he has led over the past 11 years with the RSPCA in championing animal welfare. I can think of no-one better placed to lead the sanctuary, its staff and its elephants to a positive future.”
“We’re extremely excited and honored to have a person of Rob’s distinction and expertise joining us in the Sanctuary’s mission to aid these magnificent creatures and bring awareness to the crisis facing captive elephants around the world,” said Janice Zeitlin, board chairman of The Elephant Sanctuary. “Under Rob’s leadership, we will continue providing a place of safety, dignity and peace to elephants in need and expand our efforts for education worldwide.”
The BSAVA has opened submissions for the BSAVA Clinical Research Abstracts 2026.
