Why the Future of Zoos Will Be Shaped by Technology and Uncomfortable Conversations.

It seems clear that the future of zoos will hinge on the very issue they tend to be the most reluctant to publicly debate - animal welfare deficiencies. The reluctance to accept, and openly discuss animal welfare shortcomings is perhaps understandable, but the consequences of not doing so, and not proactively tackling these concerns are potentially dire. This was arguably illustrated by the near global collapse in public confidence in the keeping of whales and dolphins in captivity, and subsequent prohibitions that occurred in the 2010’s and early 2020’s.

What makes this loss in social license most surprising is not the fact that it took a documentary for these issues to rise to the surface, but the fact that this inevitable watershed was foreshadowed by events in the UK over three decades earlier. Here, dolphins and orca were phased out in response to a rise in public concerns over captive cetacean welfare, and yet despite this very clear warning, there was a wholly inadequate response elsewhere in the world with the inevitable and predictable consequences we see today.

Just as “dolphinariums” did decades ago, zoos and aquariums worldwide now stand at a critical juncture. Technological, scientific and social media revolutions mean zoos must assume everything they do has the potential to be in the public domain, at a time when trust in institutions is in decline and awareness and understanding of animal welfare issues are growing exponentially. Currently, multiple stakeholder groups are lobbying for the closure of zoos, irrespective of their conservation or educational merits or potential, just as we hurtle towards an extinction and climate crisis. Without open and honest discussions about animal welfare shortcomings in zoos - the principal drivers for calls to abolish them, both zoos and their opposition risk creating a zero-sum impasse that benefits no one. After all, zoos are unlikely to be phased out entirely, but meaningful progress will remain sluggish at best, and elusive at worst, unless both sides acknowledge key realities and hold each other accountable in pursuit of animal welfare.

So, what’s required to break this deadlock? Firstly, all sides should recognise that animal welfare in many zoos can and should be significantly improved. Those organisations that oppose zoos tend to fail to recognise that welfare can be improved and instead demand for phased abolition. Conversely, zoos frequently default to defending the status quo, hiding behind accreditation standards and longevity statistics instead of acknowledging shortcomings related to the affective states of wild animals, and in doing so erode public confidence. Admitting welfare failings is the first step to welfare improvement, and the lens with which we must collectively identify welfare failings is science, not dogma nor reactionary defensiveness.

Recent innovations in welfare science are revealing new insights into the welfare states and priorities of captive wild animals, and new frameworks by which their wellbeing can be improved. These advances demonstrate the extent and nature by which zoos are falling short, as well as guiding solutions that have the potential to greatly enhance the lives of captive wild animals. For instance, our welfare priority assessments are revealing critical and previously unidentified species-specific variations in the relative importance of individual behavioural and cognitive priorities for a wide range of species. However, among these, intentional travel is emerging as a potentially universal priority for vertebrates – an insight that is currently revolutionising how we design environments for species experiencing habitat compression in captivity. Crucially, we must demand that these insights inform more ambitious welfare standards which are not just abstract theoretical ideas, but which are actively pursued and achieved. Since this will inevitably involve significant investment and time to redevelop habitats, zoos must ensure every habitat development opportunity aligns with the latest scientific advances, rather than adhering to outdated conceptions of best practice and habitat design standards.

Lastly, we must be honest about the limitations of captivity for certain species. Some animals simply cannot realistically thrive in a zoo environment, regardless of the improvements made. For these species, phased retirement and alternative conservation strategies should be pursued, respecting the intrinsic needs of these animals while focusing resources on species that can benefit from well-designed captive care.

At Care for the Rare we operate at the very epicentre of this fundamental shift, at this critical time of accelerating change and opportunities. We are dedicated to driving the changes that we know are both necessary, possible, and inevitable. Our work involves designing cutting-edge zoo and sanctuary habitats that deliver quantified animal welfare priorities, grounded in the very latest scientific thinking. By collaborating with zoos, NGOs, and relevant stakeholders, we strive to create environments where animals can lead truly fulfilling lives, in environments which we have shown provide more fertile ground to inspire future conservation advocates. Ultimately, we aim for a future where zoos are firmly established as integral components of both the welfare and conservation communities, rather than actors on the periphery of conservation, operating at the expense of welfare, as they are currently perceived to be by many. However, we understand to get there requires an acceptance of welfare short-comings and restorative action manifest in zoo-based capital programs.

Our initiatives focus on creating the most species-appropriate, structurally diverse, and choice-rich environments imaginable, guided by innovative, evidence-based welfare prioritisation tools. For example, at the Tierart Sanctuary in Germany, we are developing a living forest trail system that reacts to the choices of tigers, changing its form as well as its acoustic, visual, and olfactory characteristics. Elsewhere for lions, our focus is empowering species-appropriate fission-fusion social dynamics as well as opportunities for meaningful locomotion. Our unique blend of landscape design, technology, and welfare science is intended to empower these species to undertake complex, lengthy journeys to and from biologically appropriate places, circumstances, and opportunities of their choosing comparable to those they would make in the wild. For the first time, lions and tigers under human care will have access to natural experiences, contingencies and cognitive and behavioural opportunities that have been entirely absent in captive states for millennia. In doing so we are establishing a new ambitious global benchmark for animal welfare capability, and hopefully, catalysing welfare improvements for wide-ranging species worldwide.

The future of zoos depends on our collective willingness to face uncomfortable truths and to act decisively. We invite you to join us in this vital conversation and be part of the movement to create a brighter future for animals in captivity, and consequently, the conservation and eduction programs they can be a part of. If you are a zoo or sanctuary professional and you are interested in understanding how recent scientific and technological innovations can help you embrace new opportunities, and drive the inevitable change that is already unfolding, please reach out to us!

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