Science and Conservation Events
In-person
How can a better understanding of animal behaviour help us improve animal welfare under human care?
Enrichment in zoos can be defined as the behavioural husbandry practice that enhances the physical and psychological well-being of animals by promoting species-typical behaviours.
Traditionally, this approach involved the addition of physical inputs to stimulate behaviours. While this form of enrichment has its advantages, its scope is limited, and its effectiveness dependant on many variables.
The “Enriched Experiences” Programme, developed by the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance (SDZWA), represents a paradigm shift by focusing on the behavioural output of the entire life cycle of an animal by creating behaviourally diverse environments, before considering the addition of physical inputs. A recent collaboration between ZSL and SDZWA, provided evidence for implementing a version of this programme across our two zoos, London and Whipsnade.
This event will focus on how this new behaviour-first approach results in improvements to animal welfare under human care, how an increase in natural behaviour diversity can help educate zoo visitors, and how our understanding of an animal’s natural behaviours can influence our conservation breeding strategies.
Speakers will discuss studies including okapi, Komodo dragon, aardvark and macaws, and will introduce the new, evidence-based animal care programme at ZSL; a modular, proactive toolkit of which the new approach to enrichment which will play a major role by improving animal welfare through behaviour-based husbandry.
Speakers to be announced soon.
Book your free ticket
- This Science and Conservation Event is free to attend but registration is required so we can monitor event numbers. Book your free ticket now.
- The event will feature talks from the speakers, followed by a Q&A discussion panel. It will run from 6:00pm - 7:30pm, and doors will open at 5:30pm.
- Seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Venue: Huxley Lecture Theatre at the Meeting Rooms of the Zoological Society of London, Regents Park, NW1 4RY. See map (number 2 on the Key).
- Travel: Nearest underground: Camden Town Station; Nearest bus: no. 274.
- Recording disclaimer: The presentations and Q&A session will be filmed during this event, and the recording published on our Science and Conservation YouTube channel afterwards. Please be aware that by attending this event you consent to be filmed or your voice to be recorded during the Q&A session, which will be included in the published video.
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