Modern zoo enrichment for large carnivores goes far beyond food puzzles, incorporating sensory, cognitive, social, and physical enrichment across all aspects of their environment.
Predator welfare in zoos has improved dramatically as understanding of behavioral needs has deepened. The key insight driving modern exhibit design is that predators need agency — the ability to make choices about their environment, not just receive enrichment passively. Shifting systems that allow animals to choose between indoor and outdoor spaces, visual barriers that allow control over visibility to the public, and off-exhibit "backstage" areas where animals can fully relax all address the fundamental welfare need for control. Behavioral indicators including the frequency of exploration versus stereotypy, and the occurrence of play behavior, provide reliable measures of welfare quality in predator exhibits.