While they face ethical challenges and must continually strive to improve their practices, zoos also offer invaluable opportunities for education, conservation, and recreation. By balancing the needs of animals, visitors, and the broader environmental landscape, zoos can continue to play a vital role ...
If it is true that we are inevitably moving towards a world in which Mountain Gorillas can survive only in zoos, then we must ask whether it is really better for them to live in artificial environments of our design than not to be born at all." Too many animals are in the process of...
Critics argue that zoos, despite their conservation efforts, often fail to provide animals with environments that mimic their natural habitats. The confined spaces, artificial landscapes, and controlled conditions can lead to stress, boredom, and even abnormal behaviors in animals. Furthermore, the pub...
To enrich a diversity of animals, zoos must contribute financial, physical, and human resources, but enrichment often demands too many resources when the animals are destructive. We found it hard on that budget because the cats do go through the toys so quickly, so say we have a ball, ...
Over the last ten years, bird-focused studies have accounted for less than 10% of all welfare research in zoos and aquariums, with greater rheas (Rhea americana) and greater flamingos (Phoenicopterus roseus) being the most commonly studied bird species [6]. We must address the lack of ...
[26,27]. In addition, setting performance benchmarks can also help improve individual institutions and the zoological industry as a whole [28]. Moreover, the performance of a zoo is connected to the employees’ working conditions and satisfaction. Specifically, good working conditions promote a ...
the barrier-to-entry is high for new zoos interested in adopting the primate touchscreen method. There are no pre-built and zoo-specific hardware and software options available, so zoos must assemble touchscreen systems on their own and write their own software or use pre-existing research-base...
It was in the 1950s that zoo animal welfare began to take centre stage as zoos (particularly those in Europe and North America) were pressured by the general public to improve captive conditions for the animal’s experience [34]. Such a shift came in the wake of increased accessibility to...
frequent feeding schedules, providing larger enclosures with adequate enrichment, giving access to a greater number of nests with enough space, and controlling the number of visitors all may have implications for the welfare of red pandas, and these variables must be explored in future research. The...
However, before considering whether or not specific captive states compromise welfare and what strategies might be required to improve welfare for a specific species, for the purpose of this assessment and review, it is essential to clarify what is meant by animal welfare as it is a construct ...