Barrows, M. 2017. Welfare assessment in zoo animals. Veterinary Record 181(6), 141-142.

The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums animal welfare strategy encourages zoos to integrate sound animal welfare principles into all activities and recommends assessment based on the Five Domains model of animal welfare. This model considers four physical domains – nutrition, environment, physical health and behaviour – as well as a fifth, mental, domain (the negative and positive emotional states which an animal may experience and which are closely linked to the physical domains). It is recognised that keepers are best-placed to assess an animal’s affective state – the subjective emotional states making up the fifth domain. The animal welfare assessment grid can be used by keepers to continuously monitor zoo animal welfare. It can be integrated into normal zoo animal management procedures and modified for different taxa and collections.