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9 - Empowering Zoo Animals

from Part II - Captive Care and Management

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 December 2018

By
Stephanie M. Allard  and
Meredith J. Bashaw
Edited by
Allison B. Kaufman ,
Meredith J. Bashaw  and
Terry L. Maple
Allison B. Kaufman
Affiliation:
University of Connecticut
Meredith J. Bashaw
Affiliation:
Franklin and Marshall College, Pennsylvania
Terry L. Maple
Affiliation:
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
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Summary

Modern zoos and aquariums have evolved from places of entertainment only to organizations engaged in research, conservation, and education. This evolution has included an emphasis on the welfare of individual animals and investment in meeting the needs of the animals. One of the ways in which zoos are striving to improve animal welfare is through the provision of choice and control over aspects of the animals’ environments. While choice and control are often lumped together, they mean distinct things and have different implications for animal care. In this chapter, we aim to differentiate choice from control, explain why each is important for promoting animal welfare, illustrate some ways good zoos currently apply these ideas to improve animal experiences, and signpost directions for future growth.
Type
Chapter
Information
Scientific Foundations of Zoos and Aquariums
Their Role in Conservation and Research
 , pp. 241 - 273
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2019

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