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Developing and applying animal welfare indicators for

species held by zoos and aquaria – what does it take?

DR. HEATHER J. BACON

Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education

University of Edinburgh

Animal welfare science is a multidisciplinary field comprising

both social and scientific themes. Animal welfare is important

because of its impacts on animal health, international trade,

industry, economic viability, and consumer perceptions.

Animal use in zoos and aquaria (zoos) is controversial and may

be criticised unless the welfare of animals is guaranteed, but the

ability of zoos around the world to provide good animal welfare

is hindered by gaps in knowledge, as the species they house have

diverse and complex needs (Melfi, 2009). Globally zoos have not

always had access to necessary animal husbandry information,

and developments in animal welfare science have historically

been biased towards the agricultural industry (Goulart et al.,

2009), meaning that animal welfare in zoos has relied upon taking

remedial action, once indicators

of poor welfare are identified in

zoo animals (Melfi, 2009). Thus

robust welfare indicators in many

zoo species have not yet been

developed (Wickins-Dražilová).

An evidence-based approach

is essential to improve zoo

animal welfare by benchmarking

current welfare states and then

promoting positive welfare in

zoo animals. Part of the problem

within zoo animal management

is that most health and

husbandry practices are based

on tradition rather than empirical

evidence. Many zoos do not

employ fulltime veterinary staff,

ethologists or welfare scientists

but may rely on animal keeping

staff with restricted access to

or awareness of current animal

welfare literature (Hill and Broom,

2009) to assess animal welfare,

thus collaborations with welfare scientists are essential to develop

robust welfare assessment methods.

These issue have inhibited a preventative approach to animal

welfare problems in zoos, with insufficient welfare indicators

for zoo animals so-far developed, and zoos taking remedial action

only once poor welfare is identified.

This presentation will explore the challenges we face in developing

and applying animal welfare indicators to zoo and aquarium

animal species.

Full Presentation page 58-65

Dr. Heather J. Bacon

Jeanne Marchig International Centre for Animal Welfare Education

University of Edinburgh

Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies

Tel. +44 (0) 131 651 7300

EH25 9RG Edinburgh, United Kingdom

Email:

Heather.Bacon@ed.ac.uk

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