The Art of Welfare: Inspired by Sun Tzu’s ‘The Art of War’
Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is an ancient Chinese document on strategy, leadership, and conflict resolution. Though originally written for military application, its wisdom can be applied to many aspects of modern life, including the management of wild animals in captivity. By adopting Sun Tzu’s principles, facilities such as zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries and rescue centres, can develop a strategy to meet good standards of animal care and welfare, balancing the needs of the animals, the expectations of the public, and the operational challenges of running such facilities.
- Know Your Enemy: Understanding the Challenges of Captivity.
Sun Tzu famously states, “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles.” While wildlife facilities do not have enemies as referenced in this document, they face significant challenges in providing optimal animal welfare. These include habitat or environment limitations, behavioural health concerns, physical and psychological health, and appropriate nutritional needs. So, when we talk about knowing your enemy, we are not saying that the animal’s behaviour or condition is the enemy. As humans are responsible for all aspects of an animal’s life when in captivity, we must understand or know what that animal needs. The enemy is lack of knowledge, restricted conditions, or limited resources which leads to compromised welfare. By understanding what species-specific environments, social structures, diets, and healthcare each animal needs, we can be confident we know what might lead to poor welfare and design environments where animals can thrive and cope. Understanding these challenges allows facilities to proactively address them through creating complex environments, targeted enrichment to encourage highly motivated behaviours, species-appropriate social structures, and a proactive healthcare plan.
- Strategic Planning: Designing Environments that Encourage Natural Behaviour.
Another key lesson from The Art of War is the importance of strategy and preparation. Sun Tzu states, “The victorious strategist only seeks battle after the victory has been won.” This principle underscores the necessity of deliberate planning in enclosure or habitat design, accommodating the ecological and behavioural requirements of each species. Zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries, and rescue centres must apply this mindset to ensure that exhibits are created with the animals’ needs in mind before they are even introduced. This means incorporating elements that encourage natural behaviours, such as climbing structures for arboreal species, complex underwater spaces for marine life, and dynamic feeding strategies that mimic hunting or foraging behaviours. If a facility has created a complex and rewarding environment for that species, has an appropriate climate so the animals can make full use of the space all year round, and has the resources to provide a species-specific diet which encourages natural behaviours, then the battle in providing positive welfare experiences for your animals has already been won.
- Adaptability: Responding to the Needs of Animals.
Sun Tzu emphasizes the importance of flexibility, saying, “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.” This principle is critical for animal welfare. Just as battle strategies must change based on circumstances, so too must captive wildlife facilities adapt their care routines based on the latest research and individual animal responses. Continuous behavioural assessments, veterinary advancements, and evolving enrichment programs allow facilities to refine their practices and provide ever-improving care. Once you have created an environment that can start to meet the needs of the animals, then it is vital that the animal’s welfare position is assessed. By carrying out regular welfare assessments you can develop an understanding of that animal’s behaviours and needs over time. An animal’s welfare status will fluctuate over time depending on seasonal changes, age, reproductive status, social structure, diet, and health. By maintaining a feedback loop of observation, intervention, and reassessment, institutions can take what sometimes may feel like chaos and refine husbandry protocols and ensure responsive care that aligns with scientific knowledge. Being able to react to these changes and having an environment that allows the animal to respond appropriately to these changes, means that opportunities for change can be embraced by the animals and the animal care staff.
- Leadership and Teamwork: A Strong Keeper-Animal Relationship.
Sun Tzu also highlights the significance of leadership and unity, stating, “Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons, and they will follow you into the deepest valley.” The relationship between animal care staff and the animals themselves is a crucial component of welfare. Training based on positive reinforcement and trust-building helps to establish a bond that reduces stress and fosters cooperation in medical and daily care activities. To establish these practices a facility needs to invest in the animal care staff. The training of staff in progressive animal care practices, having the time and resources available to carry out these practices, and a clear set of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) allows the staff to deliver appropriate care to the animals, make observations on the animals’ behaviour and health, have the confidence to respond to any changes in behaviour, and understand what good animal welfare outcomes look like. Also, investing in staff to be able to effectively carry out positive reinforcement training with the animals allows for a closer relationship between the carer and the animals, gives the animals the choice to engage in their own healthcare, and provides cognitive challenges for the animals and staff, which can be rewarding for both.
- Public Perception and Education: Winning Hearts and Minds.
The Art of War is not only about physical conflict but also psychological strategy. “All warfare is based on deception,” Sun Tzu notes, but in the case of captive wild animal facilities, transparency is the key to success. Public perception matters, and institutions must actively educate visitors about what they are doing to achieve good welfare outcomes for the animals in their care and the challenges this presents. Facilities must also be transparent about their conservation efforts, educational activities that encourage behaviour change that combats biodiversity loss and climate change, and research projects which contribute towards deepening our understanding of animal welfare, animal care practices, and conservation of animals in the wild. If a zoo, aquarium, sanctuary, or rescue centre is open and honest about the challenges of meeting good animal welfare outcomes for their animals, and clear on what they are doing to achieve positive wellbeing for their animals, this will help foster public understanding and support for the institution and their wider goals of conservation and education.
- Sustainability: Thinking Long-Term for Animal Welfare.
Lastly, Sun Tzu advises leaders to consider the long game: “The wise warrior avoids the battle.” For zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries, and rescue centres, this translates to proactive and sustainable efforts in meeting and surpassing good animal welfare standards. If facilities focus on the previous points, they will mitigate many potential negative animal welfare issues and situations. Selecting climate-appropriate species or native species, developing a collection plan or species plan with welfare in mind, creating habitats and environments that allow for species-specific behaviours and appropriate social groupings, effective management of populations and social structures, and producing husbandry practices that give animals choice and control over their lives, will help avoid the battle of trying to solve animal welfare issues retrospectively. By focusing on long-term solutions rather than reactive measures, facilities can ensure they are contributing proactively to achieving good animal welfare, as well as towards conservation and educational goals.
Conclusion
The principles of The Art of War provide a relevant framework for achieving good animal care and welfare. Through strategic planning, adaptability, strong leadership, public engagement, and sustainable practices, captive wildlife facilities can elevate their animal welfare standards. By waging a war against poor animal welfare – not battling against the animals natural or normal behavioural needs, but fighting for the animal’s welfare needs – institutions can work towards providing the right environment for animals in their care to thrive and live a good life.
