REPORT A WELFARE CONCERN
Animals Living in Captivity Around the World
There are an estimated 10,000 captive wild animal facilities, including zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries, worldwide. While some maintain high animal welfare standards, many others lack the necessary legislation, expertise, or resources to provide even basic care.
Your observations and feedback are vital to improve captive animal welfare standards. By identifying welfare concerns, you can help to advocate for better animal management and long-term change in facilities across the globe.
Help to shape a better future for animals 🐾
Should I Be Concerned?
How can you tell if animals are suffering or simply not receiving good enough care? It can be hard to tell what an animal really needs and if it is suffering or not. In captivity there are many hundreds of species, all with very different needs. Below are a few suggestions to help identify if you should be concerned or not.
- Is the facility overall quite clean, are noise levels and temperature opportunities appropriate for the animals, are staff helpful and is there good signage and educational opportunities? Poor basic fundamental management could indicate that your concern is valid.
- Are there animal shows that appear demeaning and cruel? Take a look at our seven ways to know if an animal show is welfare friendly or not for further information.
- Some actions we consider non-negotiable. These are practices that are completely unacceptable and can cause immediate suffering. You can find a detailed list of these practices which can help you decide if there is an issue or not.
- Take a look at our animal welfare page to learn more about what animals need.
Animal Welfare Concern Navigator 🧭
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What Else Can You Do?
Thank You for caring for animals and their welfare – together we can and will improve care and welfare for wild animals living in captivity around the world.
If you would like to do even more to help, visit our Get Involved page to see what extra steps you can take to put animals first and help our global work improving welfare. You might want to Fundraise for our worldwide projects, pledge to be an Animal-Friendly Tourist when you travel or take on a Challenge for animals.
Do make sure you follow us on social media and sign up for our monthly newsletter too – and keep yourself up to date with all our recent work.
