Zoo Animal Welfare

Zoo Secretary Bird Welfare: Terrestrial Raptor Care

Secretary birds are unique terrestrial raptors from African savannas that require large, ground-level enclosures with opportunities for their distinctive walking and stomping hunting behaviors.

Key Facts

Secretary birds travel 20-30 km per day on foot through African grasslands, hunting snakes and lizards
They kill prey by stamping with their powerful feet rather than using talons as conventional raptors do
Secretary birds are Vulnerable due to grassland degradation and agricultural expansion
They nest in large flat-topped acacia trees at heights of 5-8 meters
A single secretary bird consumes hundreds of snakes, rodents, and insects annually

Welfare Considerations

Secretary bird welfare in captivity requires large ground-level enclosures that allow extended walking and prey-hunting behavior. Prey enrichment — live or recently killed prey items placed in grassy substrate — engages their distinctive stamp-and-kill hunting method. Nest platform provision at appropriate heights supports breeding behavior. Their Vulnerable conservation status makes breeding program participation valuable alongside welfare-centered individual care.

What You Can Do

Support zoos with large, grassland-type enclosures for secretary birds that allow locomotion
Advocate for African savanna and grassland protection that maintains secretary bird habitat
Encourage welfare assessments that measure walking distance per day as a positive welfare indicator