As zoo animal welfare has improved, many animals now live to advanced ages requiring specialized geriatric care. Understanding the unique needs of aging zoo animals is an emerging field.
Zoos increasingly face the challenge of caring for animals in their twilight years - a welfare responsibility they have created through decades of improved husbandry. An aging chimpanzee, elephant, or tortoise may require as much specialized veterinary attention as a human elderly patient. Arthritis management, dental interventions, dietary modifications, and social accommodations for animals with reduced mobility all require significant resources. The relationship between keepers and long-lived animals is often profound, creating emotional complexity in end-of-life decisions. Best practice geriatric zoo medicine requires proactive pain management, quality of life assessments, and honest conversations about when intervention prolongs suffering rather than wellbeing.