Abstract
Simple SummaryMaintaining a high standard of animal welfare is essential in zoos, and methods of animal welfare assessment should aim to evaluate positive as well as negative states. The indicators that are useful in assessing these are discussed as there is huge variability in the available information about the natural biology for some zoo species. Wild baselines are not always the most accurate indicator of what is right for an animal in captivity, which makes the identification of factors to include within species-specific welfare assessment even more challenging. There is no “one size fits all” welfare strategy as it should account for the range of biological requirements and needs, which it is not possible to define for some zoo species. The different approaches for welfare assessment are reviewed, including the development of the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid which offers an evidence-based tool for continual welfare assessment, using technology where appropriate, to facilitate decision making and lead to improvements in the animals’ quality of life.Zoos are required to maintain a high standard of animal welfare, and this can be assessed using a combination of resource-based and animal-based indices usually divided into behavioural indicators, physiological indicators and clinical/pathological signs. Modern animal welfare assessments should aim to encompass positive affective states and the indicators that are useful in assessing these are discussed. When developing factors to be scored for each species, there is huge variability in the available information about the natural biology for some zoo species and even less information concerning those animals in captivity. Wild baselines are not always the most accurate indicator of what is right for an animal in captivity, which makes the identification of factors to include within species-specific welfare assessment even more challenging. When planning a welfare strategy for any species, it is important that the full range of their biological requirements and needs are considered, but this can be challenging for some zoo species and it is not possible to define a “one size fits all” welfare strategy. The different approaches for welfare assessment are reviewed, including the development of the Animal Welfare Assessment Grid which offers an evidence-based tool for continual welfare assessment, using technology where appropriate, to facilitate decision making and lead to improvements in the animals’ quality of life.
Highlights
Ensuring a high standard of zoo animal welfare is important for both ethical and legislative reasons [1]
Welfare assessment looks at the presence of pain and the incidence and severity of disease or injury, reflecting current health status and not considering the total components of welfare. This is relevant since the majority of zoo animals are managed in a way that aims to ensure reasonably good health, but there is sometimes insufficient emphasis on overall welfare including the adequacy of the environment and the opportunity to express a range of normal behaviours
The majority of published studies on zoo animal welfare have focused on mammalian species [17,107]; it is necessary to perform evidence-based assessments of zoo welfare across taxonomic groups to inform the management strategy
Summary
Ensuring a high standard of zoo animal welfare is important for both ethical and legislative reasons [1]. The ZLA requires animals to be accommodated under conditions that satisfy the biological and conservation requirements of the species This includes an environment well adapted to meet the physical, psychological and social needs of the species and a high standard of husbandry with a developed programme of preventative and curative veterinary care [2]. Welfare assessment looks at the presence of pain and the incidence and severity of disease or injury, reflecting current health status and not considering the total components of welfare For zoo animals, this is relevant since the majority of zoo animals are managed in a way that aims to ensure reasonably good health, but there is sometimes insufficient emphasis on overall welfare including the adequacy of the environment and the opportunity to express a range of normal behaviours. WAZA recommends that zoos and aquariums should apply the Five Domains welfare model (Nutrition, Environment, Health, Behaviour and Mental state [10]) to assess animal welfare by evaluating the four physical/functional domains and considering the positive and negative affects generated by these factors within the Mental State domain [11]
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