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Why Are Enrichment Practices in Zoos Difficult to Implement Effectively?

Eileen K Tuite¹, Simon A Moss¹, Clive J Phillips^2,3

¹College of Health and Human Sciences, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0810, Australia.

Animals : an Open Access Journal From MDPI

|March 10, 2022

Summary

Implementing animal enrichment in zoos faces challenges. Barriers include caution, survival pressures, unclear goals, resource limits, and difficulty judging effectiveness, impacting animal welfare.

Keywords:

big cats enrichment keepers process evaluation thematic analysis zoo management

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Area of Science:

Zoology
Animal Behavior
Conservation Science

Background:

Zoos aim to enhance animal welfare through enrichment practices.
Implementing policy changes in organizations, including zoos, presents significant challenges.
Ineffective implementation can hinder positive animal welfare interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate implementation impediments for animal enrichment in zoos.
To identify barriers and enablers to enrichment practices for big cats.
To understand keepers' perspectives on enrichment implementation challenges.

Main Methods:

Qualitative data collection through interviews with 23 big cat keepers.
Interviews conducted across 12 accredited zoos globally.
Thematic analysis of interview data to identify key themes.

Main Results:

Five key themes emerged describing implementation challenges: caution, survival focus, unclear goals, resource constraints, and effectiveness judgment.
These themes highlight difficulties in achieving intended enrichment outcomes.
Findings underscore the gap between enrichment intentions and practical application.

Conclusions:

Enrichment implementation in zoos is complex and faces practical hurdles.
Addressing keepers' concerns and clarifying enrichment objectives is crucial.
Greater focus on animal mental health benefits and transparent goal-setting can improve enrichment effectiveness.