Animal Welfare in Copenhagen, Zagreb and Warsaw Zoos

What is it about?

The purpose of this article is to describe and compare the level of animal welfare in the zoos of Copenhagen, Zagreb, and Warsaw. The author conducted qualitative research using two methods: 1) field studies conducted in the three zoos between July and September 2024, 2) analysis of the official websites of the selected zoos. In assessing animal welfare, both the physical and mental conditions of the animals were taken into account. The quality of life of the inhabitants of each of the three zoos depended on historical, economic, and organizational factors, all of which reflect the broader national culture of the respective countries. The analysis revealed that the Copenhagen Zoo provided the highest level of welfare for its animals, while the Warsaw and Zagreb zoos provided lower levels, respectively.

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Photo by Michael M on Unsplash

Photo by Michael M on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The most important conclusion in the article is that historical, political, and economic factors mentioned above, which determine the functioning of zoos, are embedded within the broader, national cultures of Denmark, Croatia, and Poland. Cultural conditions determine the priorities set by social elites and, consequently, the level of funding allocated to zoological gardens from governmental and municipal sources. Cultural specificity also influences the way zoos operate, the selection of their management, the building of their structure, their willingness to cooperate with other institutions, as well as their place and role within the local community. Although the studied gardens began their operations under different circumstances and with varying potential, they now use similar methods to achieve common goals, thanks to their presence within the same international structures, differing only in the pace at which they do so.

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