Zoo and aquarium animal welfare has improved substantially in recent decades but varies enormously between facilities, with ongoing debates about which species can have their needs adequately met in captivity.
Zoo animal welfare exists on a spectrum from excellent to deeply inadequate. Modern accredited zoos with substantial investment in habitat design, enrichment, veterinary care and behavioural management provide conditions in which many species can have good welfare. However, species with very large home ranges, complex social requirements, or specialised dietary or environmental needs frequently show welfare compromise in even well-resourced zoo environments. Stereotypic behaviours — repetitive, apparently purposeless movements — are common in zoo animals and indicate welfare failure. Honest assessment of species-specific welfare outcomes is essential for understanding which zoo placements are welfare-compatible.