The Big Animal Welfare Conversation: A watershed moment for wildlife
The publication of the Bristol Declaration could mark a milestone for animal welfare, as government is called on to take action.
On Wednesday 9 September, Born Free co-hosted an event at the 2026 Wild Summit in Bristol, which could provide a pivotal turning point in the UK’s approach to wild animal welfare and conservation.
Born Free was founded because of concern for the welfare of wild animals held captive for public entertainment. While our work has expanded to include field conservation and habitat protection, we have always believed that improving welfare of wild animals, whether they are free-roaming or captive, must be a key consideration and plays a crucial role as we struggle with the crisis facing nature.
That key message was at the heart of the conversation at the event we co-hosted at the 2026 Wild Summit.
The Summit, organised by Wildlife and Countryside Link, of which Born Free is a longstanding member, aims to bring together some of the most influential and inspiring voices championing nature. Through a series of bold conversations, debates and keynote speeches, it seeks to explore the ideas and actions needed to accelerate nature’s recovery and put the natural world at the heart of political decision-making. High-level speakers at the Summit included Green Party leader Zak Polanski, Deputy Mayor of London Mete Coban MBE, and Chief Executive of the Joint Nature Conservation Committee Dr Gemma Harper OBE.
Born Free’s Dr Mark Jones at the event
Our event, titled The Big Animal Welfare Conversation, brought together animal welfare and conservation experts to discuss the key issues we believe the UK Government needs to take action on to put animal welfare at the heart of wildlife policy making.
Working alongside our partners at Humane World for Animals UK, the RSPCA, Four Paws UK, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, The League Against Cruel Sports, and Naturewatch Foundation, the event focused on raising awareness and appreciation of the importance of good animal welfare to wildlife conservation, and culminated in the publication of the Bristol Declaration.
The Bristol Declaration calls on the UK Government to take action in five key areas:
- Employ robust measures to end wildlife crime;
- Regulate the wild pet trade;
- Enable wild animal-friendly land use; Ensure wild animal-friendly planning and development; and
- Enshrine wild animal welfare in government policy making.
Born Free’s Head of Policy Dr Mark Jones said: “At Born Free we have always championed the welfare of wild animals as a key component of conservation best practice. Wildlife populations are made up of individuals, and those individuals matter. Individual animals play different roles within their family groups and wider populations. Ignoring their needs risks seriously undermining the success of wildlife conservation efforts.
“The Wild Summit provided the perfect opportunity to bring this message to decision-makers and conservation practitioners from across the UK. We hope this will be a landmark moment for wild animal welfare and urge the government and all those who are committed to wildlife conservation and protection to incorporate animal welfare considerations into conservation best practice.”
View the full Bristol Declaration
Find out more about Born Free’s work to protect wild animals and their welfare in the UK: