Lisa joined ZSL in 2016, taking up one of the first full time animal welfare positions within a UK zoo.
As ZSL’s Animal Welfare Officer, Lisa is responsible for the co-ordination of animal welfare activities across both zoo sites including all welfare assessment processes, staff training in welfare science, and provision of direct advice, assessment, and evaluation of individuals, projects, and events as needed. Lisa works within the Evidence-based Animal Care team (EAC) who oversee animal welfare, diet management, behaviour management, and zoo research. The EAC team work to provide objective and data driven recommendations to enhance animal care at ZSL’s two zoos.
Much of Lisa’s work involves data collection on animal environments and behaviour. At ZSL we continually undertake observational studies across both our zoos and all our species in order to better understand how they interact with each other, with their environment and with the human activities around them. Lisa is particularly interested in furthering our understanding of lesser studied species, so that we may better meet their needs within our zoos. Along with the rest of the EAC team, Lisa also undertakes collaborative work with other zoos and external partners to share our knowledge and develop methods of work that support animals in any aspect of human managed care.
Lisa is currently Chair of the BIAZA (British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria) Animal Welfare Working Group, which works to develop animal welfare assessment resources and training to share within the wider zoological community. Lisa is also a member of the EAZA (European Association of Zoos and Aquaria) and is an EAZA Academy Instructor specialising in animal welfare assessment. In these roles Lisa develops and advises on welfare policy and procedure across animal management and care programs within Britain and Europe.
Alongside Lisa’s work as Animal Welfare Officer, Lisa is also studying towards a specialism in Applied and Clinical Animal Behaviour, which focusses on the assessment and management of animals with behavioural concerns in zoos.
Professional history
Prior to moving to ZSL, Lisa studied Animal Behaviour and Welfare, before working as a Zookeeper, Curator and Animal Manager within other UK zoos, specialising in tropical taxa. Lisa has also spent time working with a reintroduction programme for African lions in Zimbabwe and Zambia, supporting the development of cohesive prides.
- Rose, P., Azogu-Sepe, I., Clifforde, L., Harley, J., Hunt, K., Kelly, R., Lemos de Figueiredo, R., Partoon, J., Stanley, C.R. and Whiteside, M. (2026) ‘Advancing evidence-informed practice in modern zoos: research priorities for animal welfare, conservation, and social legitimacy’, Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 13, article 1793169.
- Harley, J.J. and Clifforde, L.M. (2026) ‘Designing and implementing animal welfare management assessment programmes’, in P. Rose, Z. Newnham and I. Hickey (eds) Zoo Animal Welfare. CRC Press, pp. 171–184.
- Gartner, M., Baskir, E., Bueno, M., Clifforde, L., Cubides, L., Fuller, G., Tay, C. and Wehdeking, D. (2025) ‘Monitoring of animal welfare’, in D.M. Powell (ed.) Advancing Animal Welfare: The World Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare Strategy. WAZA, pp. 26-33.
- Clifforde, L.M. and Holmes, L. (2025) Animal Welfare Toolkit. Version 2. London: BIAZA. First published 2019.
- Clifforde, L.M., Holmes, L., Richdon, S., Newbolt, J.K., Free, D. and McDonald, K. (2023) Animal Welfare Toolkit: Guidelines for Visitor Animal Experiences Assessment. Version 1. London: BIAZA.
- Clifforde, L.M., McDonald, K. and Farmer, H.L. (2022) Animal Welfare Toolkit: Guidelines for Quality of Life Assessment. Version 1. London: BIAZA.
- Gresham, G., Matthews, F., Ferguson, A., Mitchell, J., Clifforde, L., Clarke, D. and Rowden, L. (2022) ‘Does handling for public talks affect the behaviour of captive Mexican red-kneed spiders (Brachypelma hamorii)?’, Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 3(2), pp. 158-169.
- Harley, J.J., Rowden, L.J., Clifforde, L.M., Power, A. and Stanley, C.R. (2022) ‘Preliminary investigation of the effects of a concert on the behavior of zoo animals’, Zoo Biology, 41(4), pp. 308–327.
- Clifforde, L.M. and Harley, J.J. (2021) Animal Welfare Toolkit: Zoo Events and Animal Management. London: BIAZA.
- Carter, K., Keane, I.A., Clifforde, L.M., Rowden, L.J., Fieschi-Meric, L. and Michaels, C.M. (2021) ‘The effects of visitors on zoo reptile behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic’, Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens, 2(4), pp. 664-676.
- Lewis, R.N., Chang, Y., Ferguson, A., Lee, T., Clifforde, L. and Abeyesinghe, A. (2020) ‘The effect of visitors on the behaviour of zoo-housed western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla)’, Zoo Biology, 39(5), pp. 283-296.
- Michaels, C.J., Gini, B.F. and Clifforde, L. (2020) ‘A persistent abnormal repetitive behaviour in a false water cobra (Hydrodynastes gigas)’, Animal Welfare, 29(4), pp. 371-378.
- Clifforde, L. and Maunders, T. (2017) ‘Strategies to reduce a non-functional repetitive behaviour pattern in a freshwater turtle’, Ratel, 44(4)