Animal welfare concerns, as described in the Overview of Animal Welfare, affect all species of animals. Wild animals, when kept in captivity, are potentially exposed to a variety of welfare issues. These animals are often kept captive to educate people about their needs and support conservation efforts; however, in captivity, they are often prevented from performing normal behaviors that allow them to thrive in the wild.
Welfare of Captive Wildlife Used for Education
The fundamental issue surrounding animals in zoos and aquaria is whether wild animals should be held in captivity. One argument in favor of captivity is that these animals can be used to educate the public about conservation by providing an engaging way to learn about the topic. Zoos and aquaria must balance this educational benefit to visitors with the welfare of the animals in captivity. Accrediting agencies, such as the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), can hold member facilities to a high standard of welfare. The AZA has worked to create species-specific animal care manuals that describe best practices for keeping various species of wild animals in captivity.
Captive breeding programs and Species Survival Plan programs help assure perpetuation of species, especially endangered species. One issue of ethical concern is whether animals from these programs can, or should, be released into their historical habitat and whether this habitat is protected or even exists. Some species have successfully been reintroduced into protected environments, such as the California condor and gray wolves. Other species might never be able to be reintroduced safely into their original habitat.
Environmental Optimization for the Welfare of Captive Wildlife
Environmental optimization is the practice of amending a captive animal's environment in ways that are important to the animal and that allow it to more fully express its species-specific behavioral repertoire, thereby optimizing the animal's physical and emotional well-being. This practice is often called "enrichment"; however, "enrichment" assumes that the environment is already optimized to the animal's needs.
Environmental optimization can encourage natural behaviors by having animals engage with additional items in their limited environment, and it can provide them the power and perception of choice. It is not a substitute for poor management or inadequate enclosure design, and it cannot compensate for substandard care.Substantial research has been conducted on the positive effects of environmental optimization on the welfare of all types of animals, not just captive wildlife (1, 2).
For More Information
Animal Care. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
References
Newberry RC. Environmental enrichment: increasing the biological relevance of captive environments. Appl Anim Behav Sci. 1995;44(2-4):229-243. doi:10.1016/0168-1591(95)00616-Z
Carlstead K, Shepherdson D. Alleviating stress in zoo animals with environmental enrichment. In: Moberg GP, Mench JA, eds.The Biology of Animal Stress: Basic Principles and Implications for Animal Welfare. CABI; 2000:337-354.
