Zoos housing nocturnal animals often use reversed light schedules to make animals visible to daytime visitors, creating welfare challenges that require careful management and monitoring.
Circadian rhythms regulate fundamental physiological processes including hormone secretion, metabolism, immune function and reproduction. Artificially reversing day-night cycles in nocturnal animals manipulates these systems for visitor convenience rather than animal wellbeing. While some species adapt reasonably well when the transition is gradual and lighting quality is good, others show persistent signs of disruption including abnormal behaviour, poor breeding and elevated stress hormones. Best practice involves minimising visitor interaction pressure, providing complex environmental enrichment and rigorously monitoring welfare outcomes against clear indicators.