What type of animals does the Animal Welfare Act primarily aim to protect?

The Animal Welfare Act primarily aims to protect laboratory animals used in research, making this answer the most accurate. The Act is designed to ensure humane treatment for animals that are involved in scientific research, teaching, and testing. This includes regulatory oversight to establish standards for housing, feeding, and care of these animals to minimize pain and distress during their use in experiments.

While the Act does have provisions that may impact other categories of animals, its most direct and robust protections are targeted at those bred and used for research purposes. This reflects a commitment to ethical standards and the responsibility of researchers to treat animals humanely.

The other options, while addressing important aspects of animal welfare, do not represent the primary focus of the Animal Welfare Act as effectively. Domesticated pets, animals in zoos and aquariums, and farm animals may fall under different regulations or initiatives aimed at their welfare. However, such categories are often covered by other laws or industry standards rather than the specific protections afforded by the Animal Welfare Act.