Examining the evidence for and against zoos as conservation and education tools, and what standards matter most for animals.
The welfare of zoo animals is highly variable. Modern accredited institutions invest heavily in enrichment, naturalistic environments, and veterinary care. However, many facilities globally still keep animals in barren enclosures with little opportunity for natural behaviors. The most welfare-compromising situations involve wide-ranging species such as elephants and large cetaceans, whose natural ranges and social structures are impossible to replicate in captivity. Education value requires animals that appear healthy and engaged, not stressed or stereotyping.