Animal Wellbeing

Animal wellbeing is a priority for the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Wilds; every member of our staff contributes to our animals feeling happy, healthy, and comfortable.

• Our Animal Wellbeing Mission is to provide animals with the resources and situations they need to not only survive but to thrive.
• Our Animal Wellbeing Vision is to be a recognized leader in zoo animal wellbeing.
• Our Animal Wellbeing Definition is "the state of being happy, healthy, and comfortable."

learn more about animal wellbeing

The Animal Wellbeing Committee (AWC) at the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium oversees and advances the Animal Wellbeing Program by striving toward the zoo’s vision and goals, fostering a culture of animal welfare, ensuring compliance with AZA standards, facilitating discussion, addressing concerns, educating staff, evaluating assessment tools, and overseeing programs to uphold animal wellbeing standards. Four subcommittees support these initiatives throughout the zoo.

Updates from the Animal Wellbeing Zookeeper Subcommittee 
Updated Monthly

Reporting Animal Wellbeing Concerns
 

If a visitor stops you with a wellbeing concern...

1. Let them know that the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Wilds’ top priority is ensuring that our animals receive excellent animal care.
2. Tell the visitor that you will contact the Education supervisor (Daily Contact person), who will contact the Curator on Duty and ask the question.
3. If the visitor wants a response, get their contact information and let them know that someone will get back to them.
    

If you have a wellbeing concern...

1. The most important thing to remember is to talk with your Education supervisor first.
2. If you feel your concern needs more attention, go to the region curator or the Curator on Duty.
3. If the concern is unresolved, you can complete the online or in-person form.
   - Any employee or volunteer may submit an Animal Wellbeing Form on the Intranet. (You will need to have access to a Zoo computer.)
   - If you do not have Intranet access, you can also access this form in the Human Resources Office.
   - You may also call our ethics hotline at 1-844-606-1747
    

Often, concerns can be resolved quickly with a simple conversation with your supervisor or the region curator. The online form begins a formal investigation into the concern. Depending on the situation, that process might not be completed as quickly as speaking with our team. The form is a last resort if you are unable to resolve your concern with your supervisor or an Animal Care Curator.