The Santa Barbara Zoo is raising the bar in animal care and well-being, convening leading AZA-accredited zoological institutions from across Southern and Central California for a hands-on workshop focused on how modern zoos are designing more dynamic, instinct-driven experiences for the animals in their care.
The gathering spotlighted the evolving science of enrichment; an approach that prioritizes natural behaviors like running, climbing, foraging and scent tracking to support animals’ physical and psychological wellbeing.
Representatives from the Los Angeles Zoo, San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, California Science Center, Cabrillo Marine Aquarium, Central Coast Zoo and the Santa Barbara Zoo gathered to share practical tools, case studies and collaborative strategies aimed at strengthening animal care practices across the region.
“At its core, this is about raising the bar in how we care for our animals,” said Kristen Wieners, director of animal care at the Santa Barbara Zoo.
“We’re looking beyond basic needs and asking how do we create daily experiences that reflect what these animals would naturally do in the wild? When we design around instinct and behavior, we’re supporting both physical and psychological wellbeing,” Wieners said.
The two-day long workshop featured hands-on sessions and peer-to-peer discussions, giving animal care professionals tangible methods for building more engaging and naturalistic experiences.
Just as importantly, the gathering established an ongoing regional network of zoos committed to sharing ideas, supporting one another and continuously improving animal care standards across Southern and Central California.
A live example of this approach was demonstrated through a specially designed enriching experience for Tamur, the Santa Barbara Zoo’s Amur leopard. Inspired by natural hunting behaviors, the experience encouraged running, chasing, scent investigation and use of paws — stimulating instincts that big cats rely on in the wild.
Rather than simply introducing a new object into the habitat, the experience was carefully planned to create environmental cues that encourage natural responses and give the animal meaningful choice and engagement.
The Santa Barbara Zoo has been advancing this science-backed approach through its Enriching Experiences Program, which emphasizes complex environments, varied daily activities and opportunities for animals to exercise choice and control.
As research in animal welfare continues to evolve, the zoo’s program evolves with it, integrating new knowledge to enhance the well-being of animals across all species.
By convening this regional workshop, the Santa Barbara Zoo is extending its leadership beyond its own zoo, reinforcing collaboration, shared learning and a collective commitment to continually raising the standard of animal care.
For more about animal care initiatives at the Santa Barbara Zoo, visit sbzoo.org/animal-care.