What Is the Future for Zoos and Aquariums?

Abstract

Animal welfare concerns have plagued the professional zoo and aquarium field for decades. Societal differences remain concerning the well-being of animals, but it appears a shift is emerging. Scientific studies of animal welfare have dramatically increased, establishing that many previous concerns were not misguided public empathy or anthropomorphism. As a result, both zoo and aquarium animal welfare policy and science are now at the center of attention within the world's professional zoos and aquariums. It is now possible to view a future that embraces the well-being of individual captive exotic animals, as well as that of their species, and one in which professional zoos and aquariums are dedicated equally to advancing both. Though the ethics of keeping exotic animals and animals from the wild in captivity are still a contentious subject both outside and even within the profession, this study argues. We argue that this path forward will substantially improve most zoo and aquarium animals' welfare and could significantly reduce societal concerns. If animal welfare science and policy are strongly rooted in compassion and embedded in robust accreditation systems, the basic zoo/aquarium paradigm will move toward a more thoughtful approach to the interface between visitors and animals. It starts with a fundamental commitment to the welfare of individual animals.The Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) has long challenged zoos' and aquariums' relative reluctance to acknowledge gaps in the welfare of exotic nonhuman animals in captivity and has facilitated efforts to recalibrate zoo and aquarium practices and policies accordingly. This challenge has been directed both at the level of base assumptions and through evidence-based research. It has partly developed in the context of external and internal pressures from public and staff as well as distinct but overlapping animal communities including sanctuaries, conservation organizations, animal welfare organizations, animal protection organizations, and animal rights organizations. Zoos and aquariums identify themselves as conservation organizations, but in the future, they must adopt and embrace identification as animal welfare organizations as well with a clear focus on individual animal well being. This evolution will place the emphasis on the experiences of the animals as they are provided with lifelong sanctuary in places safe for humans and nonhumans alike. Although shifts in philosophy and practice may appear aspirational in some cases, a sanctuary-like model is attainable and will enable zoos and aquariums to fully execute their missions, while aligning with evolving societal expectations.The foundation of a sanctuary-based model rests not on exhibition or breeding (for all intents and purposes, both are prohibited), but on the welfare of individual animals (Kagan, 2017). This foundation provides zoos and aquariums with moral grounding and a license to engage in their traditional mission elements like education and conservation. Understanding and addressing how each ...

Conservation, animal behaviour, and human-animal relationship in zoos. Why is animal welfare so important?

“…However, it should be noted that public perception regarding the use and maintenance of animals in human care is not based on scientific evidence (McGrath 2013): some people do not view keeping animals in zoos for public display as defending biodiversity, so care must be taken that decisions are based on a scientific base. Nevertheless, a zoo animal welfare framework has been designed to facilitate a sustainable, science-based, and compassionate approach that ensures better welfare for animals in zoos and aquariums (Kagan et al 2015;Kagan et al 2018). These same authors state that science, common sense, and compassion must be used when evaluating the well-being of wild animals under human care.…”

“…Abiotic factors like olfactory, visual, auditory, tactile, and thermal environments (Morgan and Tromborg 2007) are important but are not always considered by zoological facilities, even though we should know that they contribute to an animal's perception of their quality of life (Kagan et al 2018). Well-designed zoos can support animal training, adequate husbandry, and health care, and improve animal welfare; these facilitate environmental enrichment and physical exercise promoting more behavioural choices, resulting in greater self-determination (Coe and Dykstra 2010).…”

“…We need to recognize those animals in zoos as sentient beings with their own emotions and desires. The opportunity for zoos lies in transforming themselves from traditional animal displays to interactive, entertaining conservation centers that bridge the gap between their exsitu collections and free-ranging wildlife (Tribe and Booth 2003); future zoos and aquariums must make sure that all animal environments (physical, psychological, and social) are outstanding for the animals first and foremost (Kagan et al 2018).…”

Widespread Behavioral Responses by Mammals and Fish to Zoo Visitors Highlight Differences between Individual Animals

“…For example, the social rank of a Japanese macaque ( Macaca fuscata ) predicted probability of aggression towards zoo visitors [ 54 ]. Therefore, it is important to also consider individual differences when assessing zoo animal behavior [ 26 ] and welfare [ 55 ].…”

Freedom and Animal Welfare

“…Most zoo industry bodies, including WAZA, now require welfare audits for accreditation, guided by the WAZA Animal Welfare Strategy [18] and many zoos are now employing their own scientists and welfare officers to make sure that their animals have high welfare. These changes go along with a simultaneous increase in the number and range of publications in zoo animal ethics and welfare (e.g., [9,19,20]), which makes it unsurprising that a large number of zoos have also developed their own in-house welfare assessment systems [21][22][23][24].…”