The Welfare of Animals in Zoos During COVID

Zoo closures during COVID-19 revealed vulnerabilities in zoo funding models and animal welfare systems.

Key Facts

Many zoos reduced staffing during closures, affecting enrichment and veterinary care
COVID-19 spread to multiple tiger populations in zoos — revealing cross-species transmission risks
Admission revenue loss threatened the financial viability of many smaller institutions
Some zoos reported behavioral improvements in animals during quieter visitor-free periods

Welfare Considerations

The COVID-19 pandemic stress-tested zoo welfare systems in revealing ways. Financial pressure from closures forced staffing reductions at some institutions, directly affecting animal care quality. Disease transmission to captive big cats demonstrated pandemic biosecurity risks in zoological settings. Interestingly, several institutions reported positive behavioral changes during quieter visitor-free periods — suggesting that human visitor presence may itself be a source of chronic stress for some animals. These lessons are informing post-pandemic welfare and funding reforms.

What You Can Do

Support zoos with transparent reporting on animal welfare and financial sustainability
Advocate for diversified zoo funding models less dependent on visitor admission
Engage with lessons from the pandemic for long-term zoo welfare improvement
Support institutions investing in pandemic preparedness and biosecurity measures