Suurte kaslaste heaolu ja agentsuse mõtestamine Eesti kontekstis
Interpreting the Welfare and Agency of Big Cats in the Estonian Context

Summary/Abstract: This article explores the interpretation of the welfare of big cats in various holding environments in Estonia, including zoos, animal rescue organizations, and private households. The study is framed within a semiotic perspective, where welfare is understood as a dynamic, embodied process shaped through animal agency, spatial practices, and communicative interactions. The empirical analysis is based on nine indepth interviews conducted with zoo staff, veterinarians, animal welfare specialists, representatives of animal rescue organizations, and private owners of big cats. The findings reveal that welfare is a flexible process influenced by the animal’s ability to structure their environment, select interaction forms, and regulate spatial distances. Welfare assessments are shown to vary significantly depending on institutional norms and subjective interpretations. The analysis also emphasizes that the existing legal framework in Estonia does not fully account for the behavioral and environmental needs of these animals, stressing the need for semiotic and behaviorally sensitive evaluation models. The article advocates for the development of more effective and meaningful care practices that consider animal agency and interpretation processes, as well as promoting collaboration between different institutions.

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