New zoo chief takes reigns at Twycross

ANIMAL attraction Twycross Zoo has a new director of life sciences who will help progress conservation projects.

Dr Matt Hartley, a veterinary and conservation specialist with more than 20 years experience in zoos and wildlife, has joined the team.

Matt will oversee Twycross’ animal, veterinary, research and conservation work.

A key area of responsibility within his first few months will be managing the opening of the new state-of-the- art chimpanzee habitat, set to launch in early 2018, the next exciting phase of Twycross’ 20-year, £55 million masterplan.

He said: “I am looking forward to using my background and experience in both academia and from my time at Defra, to contribute to the development of the highly successful visitor attraction and conservation organisation that Twycross Zoo represents. Part of my role will be to strengthen the work we do on site with conservation projects in the wild.”

Matt started life as a volunteer zoo keeper at Zoological Society London (ZSL), where he worked while studying for his bachelor in veterinary medicine from the Royal Veterinary College, London.

On graduating Matt worked as a clinical zoo vet in several UK parks before moving to Australia to undertake a masters of applied science in wildlife health and population management at the University of Sydney.

He then became manager of veterinary services at Johannesburg Zoo, South Africa. Here, Matt and his team worked on a number of conservation projects, as well as partaking in field research on species such as crocodiles, meerkats and primates.

Since returning to the UK Matt has worked for Defra, lectured on animal studies and set up his own zoo and wildlife consultancy.