What the new British zoo standards mean for animal welfare

And do they go far enough?

Samantha Ward, Associate Professor of Zoo Animal Welfare, Nottingham Trent University • conversation
June 10, 2025 • ~8 min

From cats and dogs to penguins and llamas, treating animals with acupuncture has become mainstream in veterinary medicine

Vets use acupuncture to treat health problems in animals large and small, particularly to manage pain and reduce inflammation. A veterinary scientist explains some of its uses.

Joe Smith, Assistant Professor of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee • conversation
April 29, 2025 • ~8 min

How we revealed the life story of PG Tips chimp – written in her bones

The study allowed researchers to assess the impact of changing zoo practices over the last 50 years.

Juliette Waterman, Postdoctoral Researcher in Isotope zooarchaeology, University of Reading • conversation
March 24, 2025 • ~5 min

Can animals have mental disabilities?

Animals can be born with genetic or developmental issues that make it hard for them to live normal lives. They also can develop mental health problems in response to conditions around them.

Rachel Blaser, Professor of Neuroscience, Cognition and Behavior, University of San Diego • conversation
Feb. 24, 2025 • ~8 min

Global wildlife trade is an enormous market – the US imports billions of animals from nearly 30,000 species

Understanding the number and origin of animals entering a country is important to control the health and ecological problems imported wildlife can bring.

Andrew Rhyne, Associate Professor of Marine Biology, Roger Williams University • conversation
Jan. 28, 2025 • ~8 min

Global wildlife trade is an enormous market – a look at the billions of animals the US imports from nearly 30,000 species

Understanding the number and origin of animals entering a country is important to control the health and ecological problems imported wildlife can bring.

Andrew Rhyne, Associate Professor of Marine Biology, Roger Williams University • conversation
Jan. 28, 2025 • ~8 min

The global wildlife trade is an enormous market – the US imports billions of animals from nearly 30,000 species

Understanding the number and origin of animals entering a country is important to control the health and ecological problems imported wildlife can bring.

Andrew Rhyne, Associate Professor of Marine Biology, Roger Williams University • conversation
Jan. 28, 2025 • ~8 min

As climate change and pollution imperil coral reefs, scientists are deep-freezing corals to repopulate future oceans

Just as the world’s zoos breed critically endangered animals in captivity to repopulate the wild, scientists are building a global effort to freeze corals for reef restoration.

Mary Hagedorn, Research Scientist, Smithsonian Institution • conversation
March 28, 2024 • ~11 min

The animals and plants that only exist in captivity – and why time is running out to restore them to the wild

Surviving solely in zoos and botanic gardens are 33 animal and 39 plant species.

Sarah Elizabeth Dalrymple, Senior Lecturer in Conservation Ecology, Liverpool John Moores University • conversation
Feb. 23, 2023 • ~8 min

Where was the world's first zoo?

Historians aren’t sure exactly when the first zoo was built, but it’s clear humans have kept exotic animals for thousands of years.

Michael J. Renner, Professor of Biology, Psychology, and Environmental Science & Sustainability, Director Zoo & Conservation Science, Drake University • conversation
May 23, 2022 • ~6 min

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