Assessment of Welfare of Marine Mammal Species in Zoological Parks

DEAR READERS,

Animal welfare is high on the European agenda. As humans, we

have the duty to ensure that the needs of animals under our care

are adequately addressed. Animal welfare indicators are important

tools to measure animal welfare and can be used to judge

compliance with legislative requirements.

The workshop on the "Assessment of Animal Welfare of Marine

Mammal Species in Zoological Parks" took place at Nuremberg

Zoological Park on 4th of May. Among the thousands of animal

species kept under human care, dolphins, great apes and

elephants are certainly some of the most charismatic and most

debated species in zoos. It was therefore opportune to analyze

available scientific data and theories for the further development

of indicators for marine mammal species.

During the workshop, leading scientists in the field of animal

behavior and animal cognition, NGOs, animal welfare authorities

and zoo experts were unified in recognizing the importance

of science in assessing welfare. This focus on science enabled

experts with very different views and starting points to exchange

information and engage in a constructive debate.

It was clear that all participants aim to ensure continuing

improvement of the welfare of animals under human care. It

was also clear that knowledge on animal welfare of some zoo

animal species is limited, but that promising research is underway.

At the end, the event constituted an important step toward the

identification and eventual validation of indicators for marine

mammal species that also may serve as interesting examples for

other species.

With this report we wish to share the results of the Nuremberg

workshop with other stakeholders with the goal of supporting

further development of objective animal welfare indicators for

species of animals resident in zoological parks in the EU.

Dr. Pavel Poc

Dr. Pavel Poc

Member of European Parliament

Europäisches Parlament

Bât. Altiero Spinelli

10G305, 60, rue Wiertz / Wiertzstraat 60

1047 Bruxelles/Brussel, Belgium

Tel. +32(0)2 28 45411

Email:

Introduction by Dr. Pavel Poc, MEP

| Introduction by Dr. Pavel Poc, MEP