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NvE: How much sense does it make to compare time budgets
in the wild and in the zoo?
HB:
Difficult to answer. Wild animal behaviour gives us a good
idea of natural types of behaviour, but in the wild different
groups of animals of the same species may have different cultures
and use different behaviours to achieve the same objective, so
there is lots of variety. It generally depends on the species. There
are behaviours that are really important others are less. A big
challenge is our focus on how we experience the world, which
may be very different from how the animals experience it.
David Pfender/WDC: How has genetic loss been determined?
NvE:
Based on genetic loss in the past, which is then forecast
into the future.
JM: What to do with surplus animals? In Germany it is
prohibited to kill surplus animals for reasons of population
management.
NvE:
Attempts are made to limit reproduction to avoid the
problem of surplus animals.
David Pfender: Are variable interactions better for animal
welfare than predictable interactions?
XM:
It is not easy to answer, but in general negative things may
be less problematic, if they are predictable. For positive events,
it is less clear how important predictability is. Highly predictable
positive events may lead to anticipation and possibly frustration.
Lorenzo von Fersen: Can rake marks be taken as an animal
welfare parameter? If dolphins have no teeth, there are no rake
marks. Young dolphins however have sharp teeth and when
interacting they will produce rakes.
IV:
Animals try to avoid being raked. If one animal is more raked
than others, there may be a problem.
Anastasia Komnenou:
Are there data from the wild available?
How long rakes last?
IV:
There are data from the wild on how long rake marks last.
KB:
Regular observation is needed to differentiate between new
and old rakes.
Sally Binding (EAZA): Captive cetaceans are a charismatic taxon
but are under-represented in the scientific literature compared
to other charismatic animal species – why is this? Is there a
lack of transparency?
XM:
Collaboration between zoos and the academic community
must be strengthened to increase publication of data.
IV:
Zoos do have academics but many often do not publish
their data. Sharing of data between institutions should be
strengthened and more students should be involved.
KB:
One problem is lack of time. New tools are being developed
to assess welfare through e.g. cortisol determination in hair.
JM:
Awareness needs to be increased about exchange of
information.
NvE:
I disagree that captive cetaceans are under-represented
in the literature. Pinnipeds are more problematic from a welfare
point of view. I am concerned that the agenda on dolphins is
politically driven.
Markus Gusset (WAZA): Hot issue at global level are
animal shows...
NvE:
There is a cortisol study showing that there is no stress.
KB & HB:
Cortisol is a measure of stress. Just looking at cortisol
does not give information of welfare.
Anastasia Komnenou:
Dolphins experience interactions as
positive.
IV:
In “Swim with dolphins-programs” increased aggressivity is
observed, when no trainer is present. When trainers are present,
there are no problems.
David Pfender: Statement of SeaWorld to stop breeding orcas:
what is the reaction of WAZA and EAZA?
IV:
All breeding should stop, until animal welfare problems are
solved.
KB:
Breeding is part of welfare.
Michael Miersch: Pressure from NGOs: there are NGOs with
very few members but well connected to media. Do Bavarian
authorities differentiate between various NGOs?
JM:
The main criterion is the reaction of the press. Media
reactions can make small NGOs with only few members politically
relevant.
Excerpts from the discussion
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| Excerpts from the discussion