Are Zoo Animals Lonely? Social Groups in Zoos: What Animals Need to Thrive

If you’ve ever studied animal behaviour, you’ll know that social life is not one-size-fits-all. From solitary hunters to tightly bonded herds, the diversity of social structures across the animal kingdom is remarkable, and many species shift social roles throughout their lifetimes. It’s no surprise, then, that social structure plays a major role in animal welfare, whether in the wild or under human care.

But here’s the key insight we want to explore: it’s not just the type of social structure that matters, it’s how that structure is managed that is critical to optimising welfare.

The Building Blocks of Social Life

Most animals (aside from eusocial insects like ants or bees) fall into one of the following general social systems:

• Solitary (e.g., tigers, typically live and hunt alone)

• Pair-living (e.g., monogamous birds, form long-term breeding pairs)

• Harems (1 male, multi-female) (e.g., lions, a dominant male with a group of females and cubs)

• Family-based or Matriarchal societies (e.g., elephants, led by an experienced female)

• Fission-Fusion dynamics (e.g., chimpanzees, group composition shifts over time)

In zoos, social groupings are almost always artificial to some extent, influenced by space, safety, breeding recommendations, and institutional capacity. This raises an important question:

 Is it easier to ensure good welfare for some social structures over others?

It’s Not Just the Structure, It’s the Strategy

While some social structures may present more logistical challenges (e.g., managing aggression in harems or enabling dynamic interactions in fission-fusion groups), the structure itself doesn’t determine welfare outcomes. Instead, it’s the interaction between structure and management practices that dictates success or failure.

At Animal Welfare Expertise, we recommend focusing on a cascade of management factors that can enhance or hinder welfare across all social types:

The Social Welfare Cascade: 8 Key Questions to Ask

1. Is the group based on a natural social structure? Replicating wild social patterns is the gold standard when possible.

2. If not natural, is the structure 'normal' for the species under human care? For example, while tigers are solitary in the wild, compatible same-sex groups may thrive in captivity. Literature and industry guidelines should be used to understand what ‘normal’ under human care is.

3. Does the environment support the social structure? For example, fission-fusion species need multiple hiding spots, feeders, and access points to minimise forced interactions.

4. Do animals have choice within the social system? Choice of companions, access to resources, or the ability to withdraw are all critical for how an animal might cope, or thrive, within its social group.

5. Do animals have the opportunity to breed and rear young? Breeding is a key natural behaviour, and supporting it (when appropriate) contributes to group stability and individual welfare.

6. Is breeding managed strategically and ethically? Welfare-focused breeding plans balance individual needs with population goals and social cohesion.

7. Are animals exchanged between facilities when necessary? Transfers are often essential for genetic diversity, social compatibility, and group health, but must be done with care.

8. Is the group proactively monitored with animal-based welfare indicators? Welfare isn’t static, and ongoing observation, data collection, and adjustment are essential to maintaining optimal conditions.

Putting It All Together

In short, no social structure guarantees good welfare, but thoughtful, evidence-based management can. A solitary tiger may be thriving with choice-rich housing and compatible companions, while a fission-fusion species may struggle if confined in a uniform space with no flexibility.

Optimising social welfare requires more than meeting a checklist. It calls for adaptive management, informed by science and responsive to the individual needs and behaviours of the animals in our care.

At Animal Welfare Expertise, we believe that social structure is just one piece of the puzzle and when supported by smart management, it can be a powerful driver of positive welfare.