Captive reptiles require carefully managed UV-B exposure, thermal gradients, and behavioral opportunities. Zoo reptile collections have improved significantly but welfare challenges remain for many species.
Zoo reptile welfare depends on matching the thermal environment, photoperiod, and substrate to species-specific requirements that vary enormously across the 10,000+ reptile species. Generic reptile care approaches produce welfare deficits in species with specialized needs. UV-B provision has improved dramatically in zoo reptile houses over the past two decades, but lighting systems must be maintained and replaced regularly as UV-B output degrades before visible light. Behavioral complexity through foraging enrichment, climbing opportunities, and appropriate social management addresses welfare needs beyond basic physiological requirements.