Measuring welfare |
It is tempting to assess the welfare requirements for animals by making direct comparisons with humans. We must, however, be careful. A smiling chimpanzee is afraid, not happy; very few animals use their faces to communicate in the way we do. Cheetahs in the wild will pace the boundaries of their territories, as they might pace the boundaries of their zoo enclosures; for other species pacing might not be normal and could indicate a problem. Animal welfare assessment can be accomplished by considering several components: |
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Physical health. |
We can monitor the physical health of an animal by looking out for symptoms of illness or injury; a sick animal may appear unusually tired or may stop eating, an injured leg may not be walked on. Advances in veterinary science enable quick diagnosis and the provision of appropriate medication. Preventative medicine is also integral to maintaining physical health; prevention is better than cure. |
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Good physical health is also dependant on the food provided. Good food can prevent disease, by boosting the immune system (the animals’ natural defence against disease) and by preventing nutritional deficiencies.
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Mental health. |
How can we monitor what is going on in an animal’s mind? How can we tell when an animal is uncomfortable in its environment? How can we tell when it is frustrated or under stress? |
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Research has demonstrated that an animals’ behaviour can indicate its underlying psychological state. As the situation can be complex, a professional with experience and knowledge of a particular type of animal is needed to assess what is and what is not normal behaviour. Other indices also reflect mental well being, for example in times of stress we know that a hormone called cortisol is secreted. Technological advances mean that we can now measure an animals’ cortisol level from its urine or faeces! |
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Social life – or not |
One of the most important factors for any animal is the company it keeps. Zoos and aquariums should keep animals in social groups that are similar to those in the wild, however, these may vary. Group size in the wild is often determined by food; if there is a lot of food group sizes are large, if food is scare group sizes will be small. Food is not limited in zoos, so what other factor might be important in determining the social group? |
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The breeding patterns of wild animals are varied but fundamental to one of the key objectives for zoos and aquariums, to maintain long-term viable populations of endangered animals through captive breeding. To achieve successful matings and reach this goal, zoos frequently mimic the breeding patterns of wild animals; this is also considered to be beneficial for welfare. Some animals live alone pairing briefly for breeding, while others pair for life. Social animals can live in large groups with many males and females, spending little or all of their time together. Single sex groups also exist. |
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| Enclosure space or complexity. |
| Many zoo visitors remark on the space available to captive animals. It is undeniable that animals require a certain amount of space to satisfy their needs. But, many studies have demonstrated that animals’ prefer their enclosures to include complexity, variety, challenge and options, rather than just space. Where would you prefer to live: an empty warehouse (i.e. lots of space but nothing else), or a fully furnished small house with a telephone, television, CD-player, books, a computer, and the regular arrival of new things? Most of us would agree that (empty) space is not very interesting, its what’s in the space that matters. |
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| Environmental Enrichment |
| Environmental enrichment aims to mentally and physically stimulate captive animals, primarily through changes made to the animals’ environment; though it can take a variety of forms. Enrichment techniques can involve the use of scent, noise, novelty and objects which require manipulation. An example is hiding food within an enclosure. This might appear odd, but it stimulates the animals’ natural foraging behaviour; replicating how a wild animal would spend long periods actively searching for food. A lot of enrichment involves food. Research has shown that many animals prefer to ‘work’ for their food; this means that even when a dish of food is provided, they choose to gather their food from puzzle feeders or devices, which require some manual or mental dexterity. |
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| Welfare: Wild good – Zoos bad? |
When we compare the welfare of individual animals in their natural environments or captive environments we should consider the following:
- Factors that reduce animal welfare include predation, starvation, disease, parasitism, cold and heat.
- Factors that enhance animal welfare include unpredictability, choice and control over their daily life.
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| With well-designed enclosures zoos have shown that they can minimise, and in some cases eliminate, the factors that reduce animal welfare in the wild environment. While highly skilled and imaginative zoo staff have demonstrated that they can reproduce the factors that improve wild animal welfare, for example, through the incorporation of environmental enrichment into daily lives of captive animals. |
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| Welfare: Setting high standards |
| BIAZA zoos are leading the way in animal welfare; from promoting high standards in the daily management of animals, to supporting and undertaking research to increase our understanding of animal welfare and how to best promote it. |
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| The following activities are taking place within Britain to ensure that we are constantly moving forward: |
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| Law |
- LAW
- British law dictates that zoos must have a licence to operate. This is granted following a thorough inspection by a qualified team, including veterinarians, health and safety officers, and zoo experts. Zoos are re-inspected every three years. The assessment of animal welfare is one of the key aspects of the inspection.
- BIAZA is vigorously promoting the acceptance of a law for inspecting and licensing zoos in Europe, which will be an important step towards improving conditions for animals there.
- BIAZA encourages and coordinates the production of Guidelines for the management and Welfare of Zoo Animals, a series of publications on how to care for different types of zoo animal. These should ensure that the best methods are widely used, and that new developments are implemented quickly and effectively. The complete series is available from the BIAZA office.
- The Association of British Wild Animal Keepers (ABWAK) regularly runs well-attended workshops and conferences on subjects related to animal welfare.
- The BIAZA Research Group coordinates research activities in zoos, organises regular meetings and considers studies into welfare a priority.
- Results from studies and the latest developments in environmental enrichment are published in scientific and professional journals, such as Shape of Enrichment (www.enrichment.org), Ratel (www.abwak.co.uk/ratel.htm ), and the International Zoo Yearbook. These articles help influence zoo animal welfare worldwide.
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