Zoo Animal Welfare

Zoo Five Domains Practice Advanced

The Five Domains model provides a comprehensive framework for zoo welfare assessment, moving beyond physical needs to include mental state and positive experiences.

Key Facts

The Five Domains include nutrition, environment, health, behaviour, and mental state
Mental state is the integrated outcome of the first four domains, representing overall welfare
Positive welfare indicators including play, exploration, and social affiliation are now assessed
The model is being adopted by zoo accreditation bodies including BIAZA and AZA
Five Domains assessments generate structured welfare records enabling trend monitoring

Welfare Considerations

The Five Domains model enables a holistic, evidence-based approach to zoo welfare that includes positive experiences, not just the absence of suffering.

What You Can Do

Support zoos that apply Five Domains welfare assessment frameworks
Advocate for mandatory welfare reporting using validated frameworks in zoo licensing
Learn about Five Domains to better evaluate zoo welfare claims