From handling to cooperation: training big cats as a tool for animal welfare under human care
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Abstract
Introduction. This article is a narrative literature review, with a non-experimental design and a descriptive-explanatory level. Objective. The objective was to synthesize the available scientific evidence on the training of large felids using operant conditioning with positive reinforcement and to evaluate its role as a tool for animal welfare under human care. Methodology. A search was conducted through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar covering the period from 1990 to 2026, resulting in a final sample of 24 references, 60% of which were published within the last five years. Findings show that positive reinforcement enables voluntary participation in veterinary procedures: six lionesses at Lory Park Zoo learned clicker training and targeting within two weeks; over an 18-month period, 750 vaginal swabs and 650 blood samples were collected without physical restraint. Results. Among rescued Indian leopards, a structured 12-to-16-week program significantly reduced stereotypic pacing and aggression while increasing exploration and affiliative behaviors. In Latin America, a program involving Bengal tigers at Matecaña Zoological Park reduced the need for physical and chemical restraint. Protected contact is established as the recommended method for ethical and safety reasons, and training is interpreted as a practical manifestation of agency and choice key principles of the Five Domains model. Conclusion. The review notes taxonomic and geographic biases with Neotropical felids such as jaguars and pumas being underrepresented and proposes prioritizing studies featuring large sample sizes, long-term monitoring, and standardized protocols. Thus, cooperative training emerges as a concrete pathway for transitioning from coercive management to voluntary cooperation. General Area of Study: Veterinary. Specific area of study: Felids. Type of study: Narrative systematic review.
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