Zoo Biology 28 : 501–506 (2009) Introduction to the Special Issue on Zoo Animal Welfare Jason V. Watters à and Nadja Wielebnowski Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, Illinois In May 2008, the Chicago Zoological Society’s Center for the Science of Animal Welfare (CSAW) held a two-day international workshop designed to establish and foster new connections between zoo animal welfare scientists and welfare scientists in other fields, and to take the first step toward the development of a research agenda for zoo animal welfare science. Such a research agenda by its very nature would need to be highly multi-disciplinary and collaborative. In support of this purpose this article serves as an introduction for a collection of invited papers presented at the workshop. Workshop themes included the investigation of welfare metrics currently used and in development, elucidating gaps and determining needs for zoo welfare research, and gaining a deeper understanding of the value that understanding animals in the wild can bring to zoo animal welfare. Here we discuss some of the most relevant points made at the workshop and describe the seven most salient research needs that were suggested in consensus. Zoo Biol 28:501–506, 2009. r 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Zoo animal welfare has become an increasing concern for many inside and outside of the zoo community. While some of the concerns outside the zoo world have partially been focused on the philosophical issues surrounding animal rights rather than hands-on welfare management, there is consensus that best possible welfare should be provided to all captive animals. There is also a genuine quest for the most appropriate and objective measures to establish, document and ensure good animal welfare within the zoo community. The development and availability of such tools will aid in addressing emerging welfare questions and help with the continuous improvement of animal care in modern zoos and aquariums. Published online 2 November 2009 in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/zoo.20287 à Correspondence to: Jason V. Watters, Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield Zoo, 3300 Golf Road, Brookfield, IL 60513. E-mail: jason.watters@czs.org r r 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.