British Zookeeper Loses Lawsuit After Resigning Over Monkey Identification Issues

Lisa O'Hara, 36, failed in her legal claim against Edinburgh Zoo after she resigned from her position as an animal keeper because she was unable to differentiate between types of monkeys.

O'Hara, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), worked in two sections of the zoo that housed squirrel monkeys and capuchin monkeys, as well as other animals such as goats and gibbons. Despite receiving training aimed at helping her identify capuchin monkeys, she did not pass the assessment period and resigned in February 2025, less than a year after starting her job.

At an employment tribunal in Edinburgh, O'Hara claimed she was subjected to "humiliating" treatment and "excessive and unnecessary" monitoring, including being investigated through surveillance cameras for being one minute late. She also accused a colleague of making a "discriminatory" remark when he said it "would be good if she could hide her ADHD." She added that she felt excluded and humiliated, and at times had to eat alone.

Her manager, Calum Gibson, stated that correctly identifying animals is a vital part of the job to ensure their health, warning her that she needed to take responsibility for her own training.

O'Hara lost her lawsuit, which included eight complaints related to unfair dismissal, after the court rejected her claim for compensation.