The Least Inhibitive, Functionally Effective (LIFE) Model: A New Framework for Ethical Animal Training Practices
The ethics of animal training procedures have seen dramatic changes in the last few decades, with a movement toward reward-based training methods. These reward-based training practices have also been directly impacted by the behavioral and animal welfare sciences, including their research outputs. In the last couple of decades, the Least Intrusive, Minimally Aversive (LIMA) model […]
Wanted dead or alive: ethics and animal welfare in food choice
The use of live food in zoological collections is a constant source of debate, with multiple approaches to discussions of implementation. The debate can be divided between those ‘internal’ (professionals within captive care) and ‘external’ (public) to the zoo world. Generally, there is a certain objection by a part of the public to the use […]
Ethical evolutions: navigating the future of animal behaviour and welfare research
In June 2022, a group of Animal Behaviour and Welfare researchers from around the world organized a workshop (https://www.asab.org/conferences-events/2022/6/20/ethics-of-animal-behaviour-and-welfare-research-for-the-21st-century-and-beyond) designed to prompt discussion about the future of ethics in animal behaviour and welfare research. This workshop was motivated primarily by lively discussions (predominantly on social media) surrounding articles published in animal behaviour and veterinary journals, […]
The Welfare of Invertebrate Animals
This book is devoted to the welfare of invertebrates, which make up 99% of animal species on earth. Addressing animal welfare, we do not often think of invertebrates; in fact we seldom consider them to be deserving of welfare evaluation. And yet we should. Welfare is a broad concern for any animal that we house, […]
Asking Animals: An Introduction to Animal Behaviour Testing
Contemporary, thought-provoking yet utterly practical, this book provides an introductory text covering the use and misuse of behaviour tests applied to animals. By including illustrative examples from a variety of species, the book inspires the animal scientist to think about what a given behavioural test can be used for and how the results can be […]
The Ethics and Welfare Implications of Keeping Western European Hedgehogs (erinaceus Europaeus) in Captivity
Patient outcomes for hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) casualties are not limited to release versus euthanasia; some hedgehogs have conditions that do not preclude their ability to survive in captivity with human intervention. This research explored the welfare implications and ethical issues of keeping disabled hedgehogs in permanent captivity. Currently, there is very little in the literature […]
A Protocol for the Ethical Assessment of Wild Animal-Visitor Interactions (AVIP) Evaluating Animal Welfare, Education, and Conservation Outcomes
Due to the popularity of wild animal–visitor interactions(AVIs),there is a need for an ethical assessment of their impact on animal welfare, education, and conservation. The protocol presented in this study is designed to evaluate such interactions on an integrated level, using a transparent analysis of all the aspects involved, including all the stakeholders and the […]
The Ethics of Eliminating Harmful Species: The Case of the Tsetse Fly
Wildlife species harmful to humans are often targets of control and elimination programs. A contemporary example is the tsetse fly, a vector of sleeping sickness and African animal trypanosomosis. Tsetse flies have recently been targeted by a pan-African eradication campaign. If it is successful, the campaign could push the entire tsetse family to extinction. With […]
Consequences Matter: Compassion in Conservation Means Caring for Individuals, Populations and Species
Human activity affecting the welfare of wild vertebrates, widely accepted to be sentient, and therefore deserving of moral concern, is widespread. A variety of motives lead to the killing of individual wild animals. These include to provide food, to protect stock and other human interests, and also for sport. The acceptability of such killing is […]
Ethics and Care: For Animals, Not Just Mammals
In the last few decades, we have made great strides in recognizing ethics and providing care for animals, but the focus has been mainly on mammals. This stems from a bias of attention not only in research but predominantly in non-scientists’ attention (to ‘popular’ animals), resulting partly from discussion about and depiction of animals in […]