Judging the Health of Zoo Animals

Tuesday, 05 April 2011 | by Pat's Picks

Stressed out polar bears tend to pace. Elephants shift their weight from foot to foot. The death last month of polar bear superstar Knut prompts the Washington Post to ask a good question this morning: How can you tell if a zoo takes good care of its animals? Experts look for “repeated purposeless motions” when evaluating an animal’s psychological condition. Exhibits should give their inhabitants room to fly or move around freely—basically their zoo accommodations should mimic their habitat as closely as possible. Experts say this is especially difficult with elephants: “Some critics argue that even the best zoos do not provide appropriate room for an elephant to wander or socialize,” who walk about seven miles a day in the wild.

Remember Knut?