Many zoos in low- and middle-income countries operate without adequate veterinary staffing, equipment, or medication access, leaving animals to suffer treatable conditions.
Across much of the world, zoo animals live without access to the veterinary care that would be considered basic in well-resourced facilities. Dental abscesses, parasitic burdens, and arthritic conditions go untreated because of staffing gaps, medication unavailability, or lack of diagnostic equipment. The suffering involved is real and prolonged. International zoo welfare organizations, veterinary volunteer programs, and medication donation networks have shown that targeted support can make meaningful differences even in severely under-resourced facilities.