Dave Morgan is the field director at Wild Welfare, a UK-registered charity working globally to improve the welfare of wild animals living in captivity. His relentless advocacy and pioneering work for captive wildlife has redefined industry standards for over four decades and inspired countless others to embrace his mission. His profound affection for the natural world has always driven his professional journey.
Morgan was co-founder of the African Association of Zoos and Aquaria (PAAZA), the first recipient of the Animal Keeper’s Association of Africa (AKAA) Conservation Award, and a lifetime regent of the Association. He also served on the World Association of Zoos and Aquaria (WAZA) council for five years, representing several WAZA committees, including as chairman of the Committee for Population Management. He was on the board of Species360 and is a member of the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission.
One nominator said: “Dave Morgan has been instrumental in shaping the zoo and aquarium community through his career. Through Wild Welfare, Dave has worked with hundreds of zoos and aquariums, as well as many national and regional associations across the globe.
“By building an international network, Dave has helped several zoos and aquarium associations develop their animal welfare standards and processes to implement their accreditation systems, thus setting a framework to strategically and systematically assess animal welfare provision across a facility and identifying where improvement can be made in animal care and welfare.”
Morgan has travelled the world in his extensive career, training and educating animal care staff and senior management teams in progressive animal welfare practices collaboratively and positively. Often working in very challenging conditions, he has built respectful relationships and partnerships, leading to sustainable animal welfare changes with many Wild Welfare partners and across the wider zoo and aquarium community. His vision is a world where every captive wild animal can thrive, not just survive.