The role of zoos has changed substantially since animals were first kept in captivity; modern conservation zoos are now international centres for the conservation of biodiversity. In 2023, an updated model for conservation zoos was proposed, with goals encompassing the wide-ranging impacts of zoos at local, national, and international levels including 1) scientific research, 2) species and habitat conservation, 3) public health and wellbeing, 4) education and training, 5) policy, and 6) conservation finance and economy. This review synthesises a wide spectrum of acoustic research applicable in conservation zoos, including noise and soundscape analysis, production and perception of sound by animals, behavioural aspects of vocal communication, as well as technical aspects such as sound localisation, detection and classification. We found that there is increasing interest in the use of acoustic research in animal husbandry and management, conservation breeding programmes, visitor experience, and education. Despite this interest, acoustic research in zoos has lagged behind other areas and zoos often lack capacity or funding to conduct large-scale acoustic research. We outline many opportunities for acoustic researchers to align their research with the needs of the zoo community and explore potential new areas of research with real-world impacts on species conservation.
Zoo, soundscape, bioacoustics, conservation, welfare