The Evolution of the Animal Welfare Movement in U.S. Zoos and Aquariums

The welfare of animals under human care has become a major concern in many parts of the world over the last several decades. The public's concern for the welfare of animals in zoos and aquariums has perhaps evolved more recently than its concern for laboratory and farm animals. However, professionals working in zoos and aquariums have been concerned with the welfare of animals for a long time, as efforts to develop and improve husbandry for an astonishing array of animal species has been undertaken. Using interviews and gathering of information from the literature and zoological community, we trace the evolution of the zoological profession's focus on animal welfare in the United States and draw comparisons to how a welfare focus developed in U.S. laboratories and on farms. We also discuss the zoological profession's elaboration of and role in the field of wildlife welfare science. We assert that the welfare focus in U.S. zoos and aquaria has largely been driven internally and is characterized by unique challenges and solutions. Zoos and aquaria are also leading the science of captive wildlife welfare with relatively little contribution from universities, governments, or non-government organizations.