Animal loss and grief in zoos: Qualitative insights to inform organizational support for zoo professionals and volunteers
Human-Animal Interactions,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Feb. 12, 2025
Abstract
Zoo
professionals
and
volunteers
frequently
face
significant
emotional
strain
due
to
animal
losses,
yet
structured
organizational
support
for
processing
grief
remains
limited.
This
study
explores
the
perspectives
of
US-based
zoo
on
responses
animal-related
grief,
aiming
identify
areas
enhance
foster
a
grief-affirming
culture.
Data
were
collected
through
an
anonymous
online
survey
with
open-ended
questions
regarding
organizational-level
support.
A
purposive
sample
1695
was
recruited,
from
182
participants
(135
care
health
professionals,
12
volunteers,
35
other
staff)
selected
qualitative
analysis.
Thematic
analysis
identified
three
primary
themes:
creating
culture
supportive
expression,
increasing
response
mechanisms
resources,
enriching
human
resource
policies
grieving
volunteers.
Many
reported
that
insufficient
led
feelings
isolation,
shame,
burnout.
Findings
underscore
importance
zoos
prioritize
development
comprehensive
policies,
including
training
leadership,
expanded
access
mental
communication
protocols
timely,
compassionate
loss.
These
recommendations
aim
empathetic
cultures
staff
volunteer
well-being
effective
care.
Language: Английский
Animal ethical mourning: types of loss and grief in relation to non-human animals
Frontiers in Veterinary Science,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
12
Published: April 28, 2025
People
can
feel
various
kinds
of
loss
and
grief
in
relation
to
non-human
animals.
This
has
been
increasingly
studied
pets
companion
Recent
explorations
ecological
include
wildlife
loss,
emerging
studies
observe
among
veterinarian
professionals,
zoo
personnel,
animal
researchers.
mourn
many
animals,
including
farmed
but
there
is
a
need
for
more
research
on
the
topic.
In
this
interdisciplinary
article,
we
draw
attention
forms
what
call
ethical
mourning:
experienced
as
consequence
moral
commitment
We
chart
new
aspects
by
applying
Pihkala’s
recent
framework
Ecological
Sorrow
(2024)
into
three
case
examples:
(including
pets),
grief,
grief.
find
examples,
propose
two
terms
socially
contradicted
“contested
grief”
“contrapuntal
grief.”
The
results
are
useful
anyone
who
either
experiences
mourning
or
wishes
provide
understanding
it
societies.
findings
also
inform
practices
workplaces
which
Language: Английский
Experiences of Animal Loss and Grief among Zoo Professionals and Volunteers: A Qualitative Study
Animals,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
14(20), P. 2925 - 2925
Published: Oct. 11, 2024
Zoo
professionals
and
volunteers
play
essential
roles
in
the
wellbeing
conservation
of
a
diverse
array
animal
species.
Despite
growing
body
literature
revealing
psychological
impacts
pet
loss,
there
remains
dearth
information
describing
experience
loss
among
those
who
work
zoo
settings.
This
qualitative
study
explored
personal
experiences
(n
=
12),
care
health
(ACHPs)
135),
other
staff
35)
participated
larger
mixed-method
study.
Participants
responded
to
five
open-ended
questions
exploring
their
most
significant
death
where
or
from
whom
they
found
support,
how
community
could
better
support
them,
advice
for
leaders,
thoughts
about
grief
animal-related
experiences.
Using
thematic
analysis,
two
key
themes
were
identified:
lasting
toll
professionals’
volunteers’
interpersonal
described
with
transfers
both
expected
unexpected
deaths.
Requests
focused
on
communication,
resources,
opportunities
recognize
mourn
losses.
These
findings
suggest
that
can
negatively
impact
health.
Language: Английский
Key Concepts for Enhancing Zoo Animal Welfare: Coping, Comfort, Choice, Control, Challenge, and Compassion
Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown, P. 1 - 18
Published: Dec. 30, 2024
Zoo
animal
welfare
is
subject
to
increasing
scrutiny
by
many
audiences.
Although
zoo
husbandry
and
management
techniques
have
progressed,
common
issues
are
still
apparent.
To
encourage
further
improvements,
converting
theoretical
definition
into
practical
application
key.
This
paper
evaluates
a
familiar
form
baseline
for
assessment
that
benefits
animals
operations.
If
we
consider
coping
comfort
as
measurable
indicators,
plus
choice
control
cement
autonomy
the
animal,
achieving
positive
more
likely.
Providing
cognitive
challenge
results
in
improvements
behavioral
diversity.
When
ecologically
relevant,
this
welfare-friendly
approach
evolves
husbandry-based
evidence,
justifying
approaches
care.
The
human
element
of
(e.g.,
development
training
personnel)
impacts
on
welfare,
necessitating
compassionate
daily
Compassion
-
wellbeing
ultimately
embeds
core
goal.
unique
environment
zoo,
with
its
mix
wild
species,
workforce
visitors,
coupled
amount
must
learn
about
species'
needs
emphasizes
continual
approaches.
Language: Английский