One challenge, different contexts: why good zoo consultancy isn’t one-size-fits-all

Exploring the tailored approach of Animal Insights Consultancy in addressing the diverse needs of zoos, emphasizing that effective solutions are not one-size-fits-all.

When a zoo or aquarium asks for help with a habitat or filtration challenge, it can be tempting to jump straight to a familiar fix: replace a component, increase capacity, change a routine. But the same visible problem can have very different causes, constraints and consequences from one site to another.

A new habitat still on the drawing board is not the same consulting brief as an ageing system that a small team has kept running for years. A practical recommendation has to fit the animals, the system, the people operating it and the institution’s priorities. That is not customisation for its own sake. It is how advice becomes usable.

The problem may look the same. The starting point may not be.

Imagine two teams reporting inconsistent water quality. One is planning a new aquatic habitat and wants to avoid preventable design and maintenance problems. The other has inherited an older system, limited capital and a team already carrying a heavy maintenance workload.

Both need a reliable outcome, but the first discussion should not assume they need the same project. For the new habitat, early review of the proposed layout, operating requirements and maintenance access may help the team test assumptions before they become difficult or costly to change. For the existing habitat, the useful first step may be to understand how the system performs now, how it is operated, and which improvements are realistic to stage.

A third team may be dealing with a sudden change in readings or system performance. That calls for a different conversation again: what changed, what information is available, who needs to be involved, and what immediate operational steps are appropriate for that institution? The right response depends on the evidence and the people responsible for animal care and technical decisions.

These are illustrative scenarios, not universal prescriptions. Their point is simple: a symptom is a reason to investigate, not proof that one particular product or intervention is needed.

Context is part of a welfare-led assessment

Animal welfare is shaped by the animal’s experience and by physical, social and environmental conditions. The World Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ 2025 strategy offers practical recommendations and tools that can be adapted to different contexts and needs. It also notes that differences in animals’ life histories, housing and husbandry can affect how findings are interpreted and applied (WAZA, 2025).

That has a practical implication for consultancy: good advice looks beyond a piece of equipment or a single measurement. It considers the animal and habitat, the wider system, routine care, staff capacity and how the institution will monitor whether a change is helping.

EAZA’s welfare resources make a related point about assessment: different tools take different approaches, and institutions should select an approach that fits their needs (EAZA, n.d.). The goal is not to force every facility into an identical process. It is to use a clear, evidence-informed process that helps the team understand its own situation and identify meaningful improvements.

Keep the outcome consistent, adapt the route

Tailored advice does not mean lowering standards or making every answer subjective. The outcome should remain clear: support good animal care, reliable habitat performance and workable operations. What can vary is the route to that outcome.

For one institution, the priority may be to review a proposed design before procurement. For another, it may be to identify the likely source of recurring maintenance demands and compare phased options. A team with limited in-house technical capacity may need recommendations that are straightforward to operate and maintain, as well as technically sound.

This distinction between the outcome and the method is reflected in AZA’s explanation of performance standards: they describe an acceptable level of achievement while allowing choice in how an institution meets the goal (AZA, n.d.). For consultants, that is a useful discipline. Be clear about what needs to improve, explain the evidence and trade-offs, and show why the proposed next step fits this facility.

The questions that make advice genuinely specific

Before recommending a solution, a consultant should understand the setting. Useful questions include:

1. What is the team trying to improve, and how will it recognise progress?

2. What do the animals, habitat and system tell us about the problem?

3. How is the system actually used and maintained during a normal week?

4. What constraints matter most: timing, budget, access, staff capacity or an upcoming project?

5. What information is missing, and who should help assess it?

The answers help separate the visible symptom from the underlying issue. They also make it easier to explain what is known, what remains uncertain and which options deserve closer review. Where animal health or welfare concerns arise, decisions should stay with the institution’s qualified animal care and veterinary professionals, supported by the relevant technical expertise.

Show the scenario, not just the sales pitch

This approach also gives a consultancy a more useful way to communicate its expertise. A short office video or “thought of the day” does not need to be a broad claim that you can solve every problem. It can show how you think through a real decision.

Choose one clearly labelled scenario, such as “planning a new habitat” or “improving an older system with limited capital.” Explain what makes that situation different, what you would want to understand before advising, and one sensible next step. Make clear when an example is hypothetical, and never share a client’s confidential details or imply that a particular institution has a problem without permission.

The strongest message is not “I have one answer for every zoo.” It is “I know which questions to ask before suggesting an answer.” That signals technical knowledge, respect for the team’s reality and a welfare-led approach. It also gives potential clients a concrete sense of what working with you could feel like.

Start with the situation in front of you

Good consultancy is not a choice between a rigid standard solution and an entirely improvised response. It means holding on to clear outcomes while adapting the assessment and recommendations to the animals, habitat and team involved.

For zoo and aquarium professionals, that can mean more relevant advice and a clearer path from concern to action. For a consultancy, explaining those differences is a credible way to demonstrate value before the first meeting.

Animal Insights Consultancy supports zoos and aquariums with practical, welfare-led reviews of habitat performance, filtration and operational needs. If your team is weighing up a new design, an existing system or a recurring challenge, visit Animal Insights Consultancy or start with the context. The right next step begins there.

References

• World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA), 2025. Advancing Animal Welfare: The World Zoo and Aquarium Animal Welfare Strategy.

• European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), n.d. Animal welfare resources.

• Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), n.d. Accreditation FAQs.