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Welcome address
WELCOME ADDRESS BY DR. DAG ENCKE
Representative of the City of Nuremberg,
Director of Nuremberg Zoo
The aim of the workshop is to review scientific studies relevant
for the assessment of animal welfare in zoos, to evaluate the
extent to which known indicators can be applied or adapted in
zoological park settings with a focus on marine mammals, and
identify possible gaps in our knowledge regarding animal welfare,
and define specific research needs.
There are fundamentally different philosophies leading to different
ethical results: one philosophical position taking the definition of
the dignity of animals as starting point leads to the ethical postulate
not to intervene in animals’ lives at all. The other philosophical
position taking the responsibility of mankind as starting point leads
to the ethical postulate of intervention on many levels, one of them
being ex situ conservation with animals being kept under human
care. There is one unifying aim in both ethical approaches: we shall
aim for best possible welfare of animals under human care. Welfare
science is important, and it is a peacemaker in societal debates
because of its objective approach. We welcome all participants
and invite them to work on this unifying aim regardless of our
different ethical attitudes.
Welcome address |
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