Mike Jordan

Mike Jordan has more than three decades of experience in zoos, academia and international conservation. In 2025, Loro Parque announced his appointment as zoo director.

Since then, Jordan has advanced the zoo’s ex-situ conservation work, for example, through new exhibits for the Sumatran Tiger and the cotton-top tamarin. Other initiatives include a focus on local Canary Islands wildlife and the evolution of the institution’s marine mammal work.

Demonstrating his wider impact, he co-chairs the IUCN Butterfly and Moth specialist group, and sits on the WAZA Conservation and IUCN Conservation Planning Specialist Group steering committees.

Jordan has worked extensively in reintroduction and conservation management/planning, specialising in small mammals and invertebrates.

He joined Loro Parque from Chester Zoo, where he initially served as curator of mammals, birds and conservation training, and as director of animals and plants from 2015.

During his tenure, he led the development of a long-term conservation plan, contributed to the zoo’s strategy, and worked closely with the IUCN on global conservation projects.

In summer 2024, Chester Zoo celebrated the birth of one of the rarest animals on the planet, a male onager foal named Jasper.

Between these roles, he served as senior conservation advisor to the South African government on zoos and game reserves.

Jordan trained as a zoologist at the University of London. He completed his postgraduate studies working for the UK Forestry Commission, researching woodland rodent ecology and conservation.

He then entered the zoo sector through work with the IUCN, BIAZA and EAZA, and later served as a senior lecturer in zoo and wildlife management at Sparsholt College in Hampshire.