Spectacled owls and other large tropical owls in zoo collections require carefully designed enrichment programmes that address their nocturnal activity patterns, hunting motivation, and sensitivity to daytime public exposure.
Spectacled owls and other large nocturnal raptors face a fundamental tension in zoo settings between daytime visitor access and natural nocturnal activity schedules. Forcing daytime activity through exhibit design or visitor approaches disrupts natural rest patterns and causes stress. High-welfare owl exhibits provide dense vegetative cover where birds can roost undisturbed during peak visitor hours, while opening nocturnal houses for evening visitors allows observation of natural behaviour. Live prey feeding — where legally permitted — or prey-model enrichment that requires hunting engagement prevents the behavioural frustration of apex predators denied any outlet for their primary evolved motivation.