Animal Zoo vs. Sanctuary: What’s the Difference?

Zoos and sanctuaries are both places where wild species of animals live, but they’re not the same. I’ve seen some zoos calling themselves sanctuaries when that’s not the case, which led me to wonder what the definition of each facility is. When it comes to an animal zoo vs. sanctuary, what’s the difference? And which ones should you visit, if any?

What Defines a Zoo?

National Geographic describes a zoo as a "place where animals live in captivity and are put on display for people to view.” The term zoo is short for zoological park, which means a park relating to the scientific study of animals.

The term for zoo is broad, so other animal facilities like aquariums can be considered zoos. Many sanctuaries operate similarly to zoos, but they're not exactly the same. There’s a wide range of zoos around the world, with some following high standards to stay accredited while others mistreat animals and only focus on profit. The one thing they all have in common is that they have captive animals that people can see.

Standards for Accredited Zoos

Accredited zoos are typically better for the animals than unaccredited zoos because they have to follow strict care standards to maintain their status. The Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA) requires zoos to closely follow its standards for animal care, veterinary care, conservation, education, scientific advancement, physical facilities, staff, and more.

Every year, zoo standards change to reflect the best care for each species based on research. For more information on what the AZA requires, check out the 2025 AZA accreditation standards.

What are Animal Sanctuaries?

Sanctuaries are facilities that provide a temporary or permanent safe haven for animals in need. If possible, the goal is to release the animals back into the wild. However, some animals won’t do well in the wild due to human dependence, injury, illness, or other concerns, so that’s when a sanctuary would house them long-term.

The Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries recognizes sanctuaries that follow their Standards of Excellence to ensure the best care possible.

Standards for Animal Sanctuaries

The standards for true animal sanctuaries are extremely strict, but they’re in place for the well-being of the animals. Here are some standards sanctuaries must follow:

• Sufficient opportunity to move freely and exercise

• Access to shelter during extreme weather

• Proper sanitation

• Appropriate lighting, temperature, and ventilation for each species

• Access to clean water and a species-appropriate diet

• No breeding

These are just a few of the general standards to follow. I recommend looking at the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries’ General Animal Care Standards for more details.

Animal Zoo vs. Sanctuary

While zoos and sanctuaries both care for wild animal species, they have some key differences. Below are some factors that distinguish a zoo from a sanctuary.

Acquiring Animals

The main differences between an animal zoo and sanctuary is where the animals come from. Sanctuaries take in animals that can no longer survive in the wild while zoos typically buy, sell, and trade animals between other zoos. Some zoos may take animals out of the wild, but those zoos aren’t accredited and shouldn’t be supported.

Breeding

Zoos often breed animals while sanctuaries don’t. This is because the goal of a sanctuary is to rehabilitate or offer a safe haven for animals in need. They don’t want to purposely increase the number of animals in their care. Zoos breed animals to send to other zoos or to potentially release into the wild. Accredited zoos follow strict breeding standards to ensure the health of every young animal, however, there are sadly some unaccredited zoos that breed animals solely for profit without following any standards.

Public Access

Every zoo and sanctuary operates a little differently, but in general, zoos provide a lot more public access than sanctuaries. Zoos typically allow people to visit and see most of the animals in their care, and they often cater to visitors just as much, if not more, than the animals. Sanctuaries care more about helping the animals than having visitors. So, some don’t allow visitors at all while others limit how much of an animals’ habitat is visible.

Again, these are just general differences. Not every zoo or every sanctuary is identical. However, it’s important to note the differences because these two terms can’t be used interchangeably.

Red Flags for Animal Zoos and Sanctuaries

Everyone has their own opinions about zoos and sanctuaries, but I’m sure most people can agree that the animal’s care is a priority. Below are some red flags to look out for so you can better decide which places not to support.

Taking Animals from the Wild

Taking animals out of the wild disrupts wildlife, stresses out animals, and doesn’t help with conservation. It shows that the place cares more about money and entertainment than animals. It’s also illegal to take animals out of the wild in many places.

Insufficient Care for Animals

Of course, proper care should be a priority for every zoo and sanctuary. If the establishment isn’t giving the space and care that’s needed for a species, that animal could become sick or stressed. I’ve even seen roadside zoos claiming that unexpected animal deaths were an “accident” when they could’ve been prevented by following AZA standards. There’s no excuse for cutting corners when caring for a living thing.

Visitors Prioritized Over Animal Care

Insufficient care is often a result of a place catering to humans more than animals. Just because a place is open for public viewing doesn’t mean that animal care standards should be ignored. The animals should have sufficient space to hide from visitors as needed and they shouldn’t be forced into uncomfortable situations so people can view them better. If a zoo or sanctuary is constantly using their funds for human facilities more than improving animal environments, be wary.

Zoos Without Accreditations

Every zoo looks different, but how they operate behind the scenes is just as important as what the public sees. I only visit zoos with accreditations, such as AZA accreditations, because that means the animal care is held to a specific standard, making it harder for them to cut corners. If a zoo isn’t accredited, there’s likely a reason. So, even if the animals “look happy” at an unaccredited zoo, they might not be as healthy and comfortable as they seem.

Zoos Claiming to Be Sanctuaries

I’ll admit that I’m less skeptical when I see “rescue” or “sanctuary” in a name. However, just because a place calls themselves a sanctuary doesn’t mean they are one. There’s a zoo labeled as a sanctuary near me that consistently breeds white tigers, which definitely doesn’t comply with the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries’ standards. Instead of blindly following what a sanctuary says, look into them to verify that they’re actually helping animals.

Lots of Violations

Any place caring for animals should be providing good enough care to avoid violations. Animals being shipped too young, animals not having proper habitat setups, and animals dying in preventable ways should not happen if a zoo or sanctuary is accredited and maintaining standards. I always recommend checking the USDA records of a place before supporting it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an Animal Reserve?

An animal reserve is a protected area of land where wild animals live. These differ from sanctuaries because they’re still wild environments for animals while sanctuaries care for captive animals that are being rehabilitated or cannot be released into the wild.

Do Sanctuaries Count as Zoos?

While some sanctuaries operate like zoos, they’re not the same. They acquire their animals in different ways. Sanctuaries take in animals that need help from humans while zoos typically get them through breeding and trading with other zoos.

Why are Sanctuaries Better for Animals?

Sanctuaries are better for animals than zoos because they focus on the animals more than people. Their primary purpose is to care for and rehabilitate animals in need, releasing them back into the wild if possible.

Finding a Good Animal Zoo or Sanctuary

Animal zoos vs sanctuaries can be a touchy subject. Some people love any place where they can see animals while others think animals should never be in captivity. Most people’s opinions fall somewhere in the middle, and it can get murky.

To help decide where you stand on the subject, familiarize yourself with the difference between zoos and sanctuaries. Then, find out how accredited zoos and sanctuaries differ from unaccredited ones. It’s a lot of information to take in, but animals deserve to live happy, healthy lives, so it’s not good to support places that mistreat them.

If you're looking for an animal sanctuary to donate to, The Wildcat Sanctuary is one of my favorites!