Allowing zoo carnivores to express predatory behaviors through enrichment is essential for psychological wellbeing, requiring creative approaches that meet animal needs within institutional constraints.
Carnivores evolved as predators with behavioral repertoires built around hunting, and the inability to express these behaviors in captivity creates profound psychological frustration. Pacing, depression, and abnormal repetitive behaviors in zoo carnivores are direct indicators that predatory drive is unmet. Enrichment that engages the full sequence of hunting behaviors — stalking, ambushing, catching, manipulating — provides the most comprehensive behavioral outlet. While zoos cannot replicate the wild, carefully designed enrichment programs can substantially improve carnivore welfare by channeling natural drives in positive ways. Behavioral welfare assessment should be routine in carnivore management.