Zoo & Captive Animal Welfare

Zoo Accreditation Welfare Standards Progress

Zoo accreditation welfare standards have advanced significantly and continue to improve. Understanding this progress helps evaluate zoo quality and advocate for continued improvement.

Key Facts

BIAZA and EAZA have strengthened welfare standards significantly over the past two decades
Species-specific welfare guidance is being developed for more taxa
Five Domains implementation is increasingly required by leading accreditation bodies
Technology adoption for welfare monitoring is being incentivised in accreditation
Post-accreditation welfare monitoring between inspections is improving

Welfare Considerations

Accreditation welfare standards are improving but unevenly. Supporting the strongest accreditation bodies and their members, while advocating for continued improvement, drives sector-wide welfare progress.

What You Can Do

Support accreditation bodies with the highest welfare standards
Advocate for continued strengthening of welfare requirements in zoo accreditation
Learn about accreditation welfare standards and how they are evolving
Engage with zoo accreditation bodies to advocate for welfare improvement