Foot problems are a leading welfare concern and cause of death in captive rhinoceroses, requiring proactive substrate management and regular veterinary monitoring to prevent serious disease.
Rhinoceros foot health is a welfare priority that is directly manageable through husbandry decisions made at the facility level. Unlike many conservation challenges requiring large-scale policy change, foot welfare can be dramatically improved through substrate choice, enclosure design, and regular veterinary monitoring. The shift from concrete-dominated zoo environments to naturalistic substrates with varied texture and moisture has been associated with major improvements in foot health outcomes. Voluntary trained cooperation for foot examination — where rhinos present their feet for inspection on cue — represents a welfare advance that enables early problem detection without the risks of anesthesia. Facilities that have invested in both substrate improvement and cooperative care training show substantially better foot welfare outcomes.