Samenvatting

Mixed-species enclosures are becoming an increasingly popular form of housing species in zoological parks. The ratites ostrich, emu and rhea are an example of species being kept in mixed-species enclosures, most often with species such as giraffes, zebras, antelopes species or other bird species such as marabou stork. Although mixed-species enclosures provide a source of enrichment for all species involved, large ratites have been kept and bred with a varying degree of success in mixed-species enclosures. No European guidelines for the housing of ratites and storks in mixed-speciesenclosures have been established yet and this absence of guidelines results in different forms of housing and husbandry. The EAZA Ratite TAG and EAZA Ciconiiformes and Phoenicopteriformes TAG are concerned about the welfare of ostriches, emus, rheas and marabou storks in such mixedspecies enclosures. Therefore, the Field Conservation and Research Department of the Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust in Paignton, United Kingdom, commissioned a project. The project consists of at least three researches in three European countries. The aim of this research is to have a better insight of the welfare of ostriches, emus, rheas and marabou storks in mixed-species enclosures in the Netherlands. To investigate the welfare of these four species in zoos in the Netherlands, behavioural observations were conducted in seven mixed-species enclosures in four zoos. The research focused on behaviour, behaviour in relation to feeding, behaviour in relation to housing and behaviour in relation to health.