Modern zoos use animal welfare as an educational message alongside conservation. The link between good welfare and public engagement creates aligned incentives for improvement.
The intersection of zoo welfare and education creates a virtuous cycle where better welfare produces more engaging animal behaviour, which educates more visitors about welfare and conservation, which generates support for continued welfare improvement. Zoos that position themselves as welfare exemplars have both moral and commercial incentives for continuous improvement. Visitor education that builds animal welfare literacy creates a more informed public that makes better welfare-oriented consumer and political decisions.