Large felids in zoos have specific behavioral needs that must be assessed and addressed. Understanding what comprehensive welfare assessment includes helps evaluate zoo quality.
Large cat welfare assessment in zoos requires species-specific knowledge — the welfare needs of a social lion differ fundamentally from those of a solitary amur leopard. Generic "big cat" welfare standards fail to account for these differences. The persistence of stereotypic pacing in large cats even in larger enclosures suggests that spatial enrichment alone is insufficient — behavioral complexity, novelty, and species-appropriate social arrangements are equally important dimensions of welfare.