Abstract
Simple SummaryThis paper outlines some of the barriers to implementing improved zoo animal welfare in practice, and proposes a new strategy for the development of behavioral husbandry routines focused on the management and mitigation of abnormal repetitive behaviors. Focusing on enhancing zoo animal welfare by integrating aspects of ecology, ethology and clinical animal behavior into a practical and comprehensive approach to behavior-based husbandry.The field of zoo animal welfare science has developed significantly over recent years. However despite this progress in terms of scientific research, globally, zoo animals still face many welfare challenges. Recently, animal welfare frameworks such as the five domains or five needs have been developed and suggested to improve the welfare of zoo animals, but without practical guidance, such tools may remain abstract from the daily experience of zoo animals. Similarly specific practical strategies such as those for enrichment development exist, but their lack of holistic integration with other aspects of animal husbandry and behavioral medicine means that overall, good zoo animal welfare may still be lacking. This paper outlines some of the barriers to implementing improved zoo animal welfare in practice, and proposes a new strategy for the development of behavioral husbandry routines focused on the management and mitigation of abnormal repetitive behaviors. Focusing on enhancing zoo animal welfare by integrating aspects of ecology, ethology and clinical animal behavior into a practical and comprehensive approach to behavior-based husbandry.
Highlights
The issue of zoo animal welfare has received increasing attention over recent years [1,2,3].Operant conditioning, enclosure design and environmental enrichment strategies have all been suggested to improve the welfare of zoo animals by reducing stereotypical behavior and alleviating stress
This article outlines some of the barriers to delivering positive welfare experiences through holistic behavioral management strategies to zoo animals, and makes recommendations for institutional approaches towards improving zoo animal welfare using the example of Abnormal Repetitive Behaviors (ARBs), through targeted behavioral management
It is recognized that a variety of abnormal repetitive behaviors (ARBs) comprising but not limited to stereotypic ritualistic behavior, self-directed behaviors, or externally directed behaviors, are common in many species held in zoos, e.g., canids, bears, elephants, primates, ruminants [9], birds [50,51] and even occur in less charismatic species such as fish and reptiles [46,52,53,54]
Summary
The issue of zoo animal welfare has received increasing attention over recent years [1,2,3]. Enclosure design and environmental enrichment strategies have all been suggested to improve the welfare of zoo animals by reducing stereotypical behavior and alleviating stress. Such strategies have even been suggested to improve the captive breeding and reintroduction success of wildlife species [4,5,6,7,8]. Despite the recognition and wide-scale implementation of such strategies, concerns around global zoo animal welfare remain, and behavioral pathologies are common in many species [9,10,11]. This article outlines some of the barriers to delivering positive welfare experiences through holistic behavioral management strategies to zoo animals, and makes recommendations for institutional approaches towards improving zoo animal welfare using the example of Abnormal Repetitive Behaviors (ARBs), through targeted behavioral management
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
