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, […]
By Bits and Pieces: The Contributions of Zoos and Aquariums to Science and Society via Biomaterials
Scientific research has long been recognized as one of the four pillars of the zoo or aquarium mission, alongside recreation, conservation, and education. This study sought to quantify a sample of zoos’ participation in scientific research via the provision of biomaterials from animals to outside scientists and the associated training of undergraduate and graduate students […]
The Measurability of Subjective Animal Welfare
One of the most challenging questions surrounding subjective animal welfare is whether these states are measurable: that is, is subjective welfare an appropriately quantifiable target for scientific enquiry and ethical and deliberative calculation? The availability of several different types of measurement scale raises important questions regarding whether subjective experience has the right properties to be […]
Does the Absence of Zoo Visitors during the COVID-19 Pandemic Impact Gorilla Behavior?
Whether or not primates are behaviorally affected by the presence of visitors in a zoo setting is a question of great relevance to zoo animal well-being. The situation imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic provided an unusual opportunity to examine how the absence of visitors impacts behavior. We took advantage of this opportunity to study the […]
Bridging research disciplines to advance animal welfare science: a practical guide.
This book provides practical information about interdisciplinary research, particularly to students and researchers of animal behaviour, animal welfare and veterinary sciences, to better understand how the integration of disciplines can advance animal welfare science. It has two parts, in part 1, this book gives guidance on how interdisciplinary research can advance animal welfare science. Part […]
Status of animal welfare research in zoos and aquariums: Where are we, where to next?
Research into the conditions that promote good animal welfare is essential to equip zoos and aquariums with the knowledge to create environments in which animals thrive. In order to collate the empirical information that is available regarding animal welfare in zoos and aquariums with regard to topics, methods and species, a systematic literature review was […]
Zoo Research Guidelines: Project Planning and Behavioural Observations
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Facility design and associated services for the study of amphibians
The role of facilities and associated services for amphibians has recently undergone diversification. Amphibians traditionally used as research models adjust well to captivity and thrive with established husbandry techniques. However, it is now necessary to maintain hundreds of novel amphibian species in captive breeding, conservation research, and biomedical research programs. These diverse species have a […]
A brief overview of chimpanzees and aging research
Using The Observer for Animal Behavior Research: Stress and emotions in animals
Animals respond to inputs from their inner and outer environment with physiological and behavioral changes. They try to maintain a stable state by reacting to disturbances of the inner and outer world: their Umwelt. Under natural conditions an animal predicts and controls its Umwelt by feeding, moving, resting, socializing, communicating, etc. It has the freedom […]