Feeding enrichment for zoo carnivores is essential for welfare, allowing expression of predatory behaviors that are completely absent in conventional feeding approaches.
Conventional zoo carnivore feeding - delivering prepared meat to an enclosure at fixed times - eliminates the behavioral complex that constitutes the majority of natural carnivore activity. The welfare deficit this creates is substantial: predatory behavior, the cognitive engagement of hunting, and the physical exercise of pursuit are all absent. Feeding enrichment programs that hide food, freeze it in novel forms, use puzzle feeders, or present whole carcasses restore some of this behavioral complexity. The evidence for welfare benefits is clear, and feeding enrichment should be non-negotiable in carnivore management.