At Zoo Aquarium Madrid, animal welfare is more than a priority. It is a shared responsibility anchored in professionalism, coordination, and collective expertise. Behind every healthy animal stands a multidisciplinary team working in unison: keepers, veterinarians, operations staff, maintenance specialists, and colleagues from every corner of the zoo.

Two of these professionals, Lucía Martín and Joel Gallego, Keepers from the Conservation Department (Terrestrial Mammals), recently presented “The Value of the Team in Animal Welfare” at the X AICAS Congress, coinciding with the 25th Anniversary of the Association. We spoke to them to explore how teamwork drives high-quality animal care and why focusing on the team is fundamental to achieving it.

Your presentation focuses on “the value of the team.” What inspired you to explore this topic?

Lucía: We wanted to highlight something we experience daily: animal wellbeing relies on the wellbeing of the professionals who care for them. It’s not only about enclosures, diets, and enrichment. It’s about communication, trust, and alignment. When the team works with clarity and calm, animals benefit from that stability.

Joel: Exactly. Visitors see the animals, but not always the coordination behind their care. Feeding schedules, safety protocols, enrichment activities… none of that can happen effectively without a cohesive team.

How would you describe the connection between human and animal wellbeing?

Lucía: It’s a cycle. Individual wellbeing, team wellbeing, and animal wellbeing are interdependent. If one element weakens, the others feel the impact. Supporting each other and sharing knowledge helps us keep a balanced, reliable environment for the animals.

Joel: Our work carries responsibility, physical effort, and emotional demands. When you know your team is behind you, challenges become easier to manage, and the quality of care increases.

What are the keys to building a strong, united team?

Joel: Communication. Listening to one another, sharing observations, and trusting that each professional brings valuable insight. If someone notices a change in an animal’s behavior, the team acts together.

Lucía: I’d add trust and complementarity. We each have different strengths. Some excel at observing subtle changes; others at solving practical challenges. That diversity is what makes the team effective.

You mentioned the importance of every role in the zoo. What does that mean in practice?

Lucía: Animal wellbeing is the result of coordinated work across many areas: keepers, veterinarians, maintenance, operations, administrative staff. Every role ensures that animals live in safe, wellmaintained, enriching environments. People and purpose are inseparable.

Joel: And every detail matters: preparing the right diet, keeping installations in optimal condition, ensuring safety protocols are followed. Teamwork isn’t a concept here. It’s our operating method.

How has the role of animal keepers evolved over the years?

Joel: There has been a generational shift. Earlier generations came from more rural backgrounds and brought intuition and an innate sense of responsibility. Later cohorts, especially from the 2000s onward, joined with academic training, many with university degrees in Biology or related fields. Today’s new professionals often enter with specialized keeper courses or transition from other sectors.

Lucía: Each stage has contributed something essential. Experience and new methodologies complement each other. The goal isn’t to replace one with the other, but to build a strong, well-rounded team with shared commitment.

What does “team wellbeing” look like in your daily work?

Lucía: It means working in an environment where professionals feel supported, respected, and able to perform their roles safely and confidently. That foundation directly impacts the animals’ wellbeing.

Joel: Motivation is also key. When someone feels valued and recognized, their dedication shows. This profession attracts people with enormous passion, and that passion is visible in the care we provide.

If you had to define the Zoo Aquarium Madrid team in one sentence…?

Lucía: A group of committed professionals who care deeply about the animals and about doing their work responsibly.

Joel: A cohesive, adaptable team that learns, collaborates, and continually strives to improve.

From the primate installations to the elephant habitats, from the veterinary clinic to the food preparation areas, the team at Zoo Aquarium Madrid reminds us that true animal welfare begins with human professionalism, collaboration, and purpose.

Thank you, Lucía, Joel, and all Zoo colleagues, for demonstrating what commitment, expertise, and teamwork look like in action. You are at the heart of Parques Reunidos’ mission to learn, share, and care — together.