ZIMS in Research: 150 Years of Data Show Sustained Survival Gains for Big Cats in Zoo Care
- By Gavrielle Kirk-Cohen
A new study in Biological Conservation draws on nearly 150 years of data from the Species360 Zoological Information Management System (ZIMS) to document long-term changes in survival for five big cat species held in zoological facilities. The findings show a sustained upward trend in life expectancy and lifespan equality across all five Panthera species, with zoo-born lions now exceeding their wild counterparts on both measures.
Study highlights
- The study shows long-term survival gains in the five Panthera species under ex situ care since 1874.
- For the first time, researchers confirmed that zoo-born lions now surpass their wild counterparts in both life expectancy and lifespan equality.
- The study provides the most comprehensive evidence to date of the long-term survival gains for big cats in modern zoological facilities.
- Across all five species, life expectancy and lifespan equality improved together, a pattern demographers recognise as a reliable indicator of improved living conditions and care quality.
- Results support ex situ populations for biodiversity conservation strategies.
- The data provides evidence-based support for the welfare standards of accredited zoological facilities.
- Read the full study here.
The study was led by the Species360 Conservation and Science Team in collaboration with zoo community researchers. Using records from ZIMS spanning 1874 to 2022, the team examined how advances in husbandry and veterinary care over nearly 150 years have shaped survival outcomes for five Panthera species: lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards, and snow leopards.
The research team, which includes Species360’s Dr. Morgane Tidière and Rikke Øgelund Nielsen, and Toronto Zoo’s Dr. Gabriela Mastromonaco, evaluated records of 41,244 individuals born between 1874 and 2022. The results show a progressive and consistent upward trend in three key survival indicators: life expectancy, lifespan equality, and juvenile survival.
The Evolution of Modern Zoos
Beyond survival statistics, the study traces how zoo management practices for Panthera have changed over nearly 150 years. Two milestones stand out: the introduction of nutritionally balanced diets in the mid-20th century, which coincided with a measurable drop in mortality rates, and the establishment of studbooks in the 1960s, which enabled coordinated breeding programs across institutions. The consistent improvement in survival indicators across this period reflects those advances in practice. Because longevity is closely tied to overall health, the study treats these survival trends as reliable indicators of animal welfare, not just demographic outcomes.
Supporting the One Plan Approach to Conservation
The success of ex situ programs for Panthera species relies on a critical mass of accredited facilities working together. Their role is central to the IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group’s (CPSG) One Plan Approach, which advocates for the integration of in situ and ex situ management to achieve coherent species-level conservation outcomes. This study adds weight to that framework, confirming that the shift toward evidence-based management has contributed to more demographically stable and genetically valuable Panthera populations in zoological facilities.
Dr. Morgane Tidière, study co-author and Species360 Conservation and Science Team Leader, said: “This study is the result of more than four years of close collaboration between experts across zoological facilities, universities, and other organisations. It illustrates how diverse scientific perspectives, combined with the remarkable depth of data recorded daily by Species360 members in ZIMS, can meaningfully advance our understanding of species and strengthen conservation science.”
This study was made possible thanks to the data entered by more than 1,400 Species360 members around the world, as well as the financial support of four AZA-accredited zoological facilities, namely the Toronto Zoo, Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, Wilder Institute/Calgary Zoo, and Zoo de Granby.
This research highlights how improvements in animal welfare practices have led to measurable, long-term benefits for large cats at accredited Zoos. We celebrate the animal care staff and researchers for their commitment to improving daily husbandry and monitoring, ensuring we deliver compassionate and responsible care
– Dolf DeJong, Toronto Zoo CEO.
On the zoo’s decision to support the study, DeJong explained: “Welfare expectations for big cats in managed care are evolving as new scientific standards emerge and public interest in animal well-being grows. Zoos are increasingly expected to provide not only high-quality care but also transparent, measurable evidence of animal welfare. Our collaboration with Species360 allowed us to examine lifespan trends across institutions and better understand how improvements in husbandry, nutrition, and health practices are shaping the lives of big cats under human care.”
ZIMS Data for Research
The research team accessed records for all five Panthera species through a Species360 Research Request, drawing on ZIMS ex situ population data. The study illustrates what becomes possible when longitudinal animal records are made available for research: in this case, deepening our understanding of big cat biology.
Data sharing is central to Species360’s mission, and for over 50 years, Species360 members have contributed data to ZIMS, making it the world’s largest database of animals in human care. The Species360 Conservation Science Alliance (CSA) serves as a platform for data science collaborations, aiming to maximize the positive impact of ZIMS data to improve animal care and welfare, support conservation efforts, and advance scientific research, all while ensuring the privacy of Species360 member data.
This project demonstrates how institutional investment in data-driven research amplifies the scientific value of ZIMS. Zoos and aquariums interested in sponsoring future research through the CSA can help expand the evidence base for animal care, inform conservation planning, and contribute to a growing body of peer-reviewed science built on ex situ population data.
For more information on the Species360 Conservation Science Alliance (CSA) or obtaining ZIMS data for research, please visit the CSA website.
