Crocodilians are kept in zoos, farms, and private collections worldwide. Their ectothermic physiology and specialist behavioural needs require specific welfare management.
Crocodilian welfare in captivity is often poorly managed due to misconceptions about their cognitive simplicity. They show individual personality variation and can become chronically stressed in inadequate environments. Thermal management is not optional - ectotherms kept too cold become immunosuppressed and digestively compromised. Access to water deep enough for full submersion is a welfare requirement, not a luxury. Feeding enrichment that provides hunting-like challenges supports psychological welfare.