Mixed-species exhibits can benefit welfare through increased environmental complexity and natural social cues, but require careful species compatibility assessment to prevent chronic stress or injury.
Mixed-species exhibits represent a promising welfare innovation when species are selected and managed well. Natural co-evolutionary relationships between species — such as ungulate-bird associations where birds remove ectoparasites from ungulate skin — provide genuine welfare benefits. Environmental complexity increases as animals respond to conspecific and heterospecific cues, engaging a richer range of natural behaviours. The welfare risk of inappropriate combinations is significant: a prey species cohabiting with a predator species experiences chronic stress from predator cues even when the predator is safely managed. Rigorous pre-introduction compatibility assessment and post-introduction welfare monitoring are essential for realising the welfare benefits while avoiding welfare harms.