What to consider when choosing experiences with animals: conservation, choice, and much more

Zoo Atlanta’s Wild Encounters bring you up close and personal with animals from around the world while offering the opportunity to connect with the Zoo’s Animal Care and Education Teams. Experiences like these can be life-changing, and a quick internet search reveals countless ways to interact with animals. But how do you know which ones are ethical?

As the supervisor of the Zoo’s Immersion Programs, this question is always at the forefront of my mind when working with other teams to design new experiences. Ethical animal interactions should prioritize animal choice and well-being, participant safety, and conservation impact. These principles can also help guide your decisions when evaluating animal encounters elsewhere.

The animals you meet on a Wild Encounter at Zoo Atlanta have the option to participate. Using positive reinforcement, the Animal Care Team invites the animals to engage in training sessions, but the animals make the decision. This approach builds trust and allows the animals to engage voluntarily, which is why they regularly choose to participate. Collaborating with our Animal Nutrition and Veterinary Teams, we ensure that any food used during encounters fits within each animal’s dietary plan.

Safety is another significant component of every experience, and this looks different depending on the species. Protected contact interactions (a barrier between the animal and person) maintain safe boundaries for both animals and guests, while giving the animals the option to leave an encounter. Personal protective equipment (PPE) can also add another layer of protection. For example, guests in the Lemur Wild Encounter wear gloves and masks to reduce the risk of disease transmission between humans and non-human primates.

Zoo Atlanta is proud to be an accredited member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which holds its members to rigorous standards in animal care, well-being, and conservation. As part of the accreditation and inspection process, AZA evaluates programs like ours to ensure they meet these high standards. Only about 10% of exhibitors licensed by the United States Department of Agriculture achieve AZA accreditation.

Conservation is also a core element of every Wild Encounter. Each program includes intentional messaging focused on conservation efforts supported by the Zoo, along with practical actions guests can take to help wildlife. Rather than a generic statement at the end of an experience, conservation themes are integrated throughout the experience—from responsible pet ownership to the importance of working with communities to protect species. Additionally, a portion of every ticket directly supports our conservation partners like Conservation South Luangwa.

Not all animal interactions are created equal. When choosing an experience, look for programs that prioritize animal choice, maintain strong safety standards, and actively contribute to conservation. When you do, you’re not just creating a memorable moment; you are supporting the well-being of animals at the Zoo and their wild counterparts.

Andrew Hogan
Animal Immersion Programs Supervisor