Welfare WISE

Welfare Improvement through Scientific Evidence

At Sea World, we believe that each animal, no matter how big or small, is a unique individual worthy of a life filled with positive experiences and minimal negative experiences. The multitude of transient experiences that an animal has throughout its lifetime is what we refer to as animal welfare.

Ensuring that all animals within our care experience positive welfare is our number one job. At Sea World, we don't leave good animal welfare to chance. That's why we've developed an evidence-based system of analysing, ranking, and improving animal welfare modelled on the Five Domains, called Welfare WISE, which stands for Welfare Improvement through Scientific Evidence.




Health & Nutrition



Health & Nutrition refers to whether animals are free from disease, can maintain normal functional capacity, and are able to engage in activities that generate positive experiences. At Sea World, we work to improve Health & Nutrition by:

• Regularly examining animals for signs of disease and injury
• Providing varied, nutritious diets that keep animals healthy
• Ensuring animals have access to safe and interesting environments that keep them physically fit and protected from harm
• Implementing a Preventative Medicine Program

Enriching Environment



Enriching Environment refers to whether animals live in safe, naturalistic, species-appropriate environments that keep animals safe, physically fit, and mentally engaged. At Sea World, we work to improve Enriching Environments by:

• Designing exhibits with adequate space for species to express normal behaviours
• Providing sensory stimulation that is appropriate for the species
• Placing animals in social environments where they will have a positive or neutral effect on the animals around them

Behavioural Diversity



Behavioural Diversity refers to whether animals are able to engage in the full range of behaviours that are characteristic of their species and to carry out the behaviours necessary to fulfill their motivations. At Sea World, we work to improve Behavioural Diversity by:

• Designing enclosure features that mimic the natural environment and provide for a range of species-appropriate behaviours
• Creating enriched experiences for animals that elicit species-characteristic behaviours related to exploration, foraging, play, bonding, mating, rearing of young, and seeking refuge.

Mental Challenge



Mental Challenge refers to whether animals are learning new skills and making full use of their cognitive capacities. At Sea World, we work to improve Mental Challenge by:

• Only using positive reinforcement training
• Having training sessions be animal directed rather than trainer directed
• Using of concept training, which asks animals to make connections between previously disconnected concepts

Choice and Control



Choice & Control refers to whether animals have agency, or the ability exert their will to influence their environments, husbandry procedures, training, and guest interactions. At Sea World, we work to improve Choice & Control by:

• Providing opportunities for animals to exert choice and control over their experiences
• Asking animals what they prefer through preference testing and choice training
• Providing animals with the opportunity to retreat and remain out of view of guests
• Ensuring that all human interactions with animals demonstrate respect for the individual animal and their choices

Dignity and Respect



Dignity refers to how an animal is portrayed, both in relation to humans and the animal's inherent worth. Respect refers to how we think about and treat animals. At Sea World, we work to improve Dignity & Respect by:

• Reviewing animal-guest interactions
• Reviewing the context of animal presentations
• Training behaviours that improve welfare and highlight animals' capacity for learning

ZAA Accredited

Sea World is a welfare accredited zoological institution under the Zoo and Aquarium (ZAA) and is also regulated by multiple State and Federal Government agencies.