Using a scientific approach

TO ENHANCE ANIMAL WELFARE

Video credit: ABYSS

Photo credit: Isabella Clegg

Animal welfare is an emerging topic of global concern.

Humans impact the welfare of both captive and wild animals. Welfare science provides a toolkit of objective measures that can be used to assess and improve welfare. Our group of welfare experts are able to apply these innovative tools where animal welfare questions are being raised and develop sustainable, evidence-based management plans.

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PROJECTS

We provide expertise regarding captive and wild animal welfare, including the species-specific Cetacean Welfare Assessment and our Zoo-Well Assessment series. Check out our IdeaBox enrichment project too!

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NEWS

See our latest media releases, scientific publications and workshops.

SOCIAL

IdeaBox: AWE Cetacean Enrichment Catalogue – How to Build a Sinker Tether Ball

Submitted by Jen Plefka, National Aquarium in Baltimore

Explore this brilliant enrichment idea for Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins, as detailed by Jen Plefka. Using a donated horse stall mat for the base, along with car wash strips, a jolly ball, and a PVC pipe (to prevent tangling), this free-moving “sinker tether ball” encourages natural, playful behaviour in dolphins. Follow these simple steps:

Cut the horse stall mat to your desired shape.
Create holes in the mat and attach car wash strips at suitable points and lengths.

Affix one longer car wash strip, then slide a PVC pipe onto it for safety.

Securely tie the jolly ball at the end of the strip.
Ensure the device is safe by checking that the car wash strips are of an appropriate length to avoid entanglement.

For further details on which cetacean enrichment ideas are encouraged, visit:
www.animalwelfareexpertise.com/ideabox

By submitting your idea, you agree to share your personal details and any accompanying photos or videos with other AWE IdeaBox users, with the possibility of public publication.

In a recent article, researchers explored the intricate relationship between behaviour and stress physiology in three juvenile bear cubs—two polar bear cubs, Astra and Laerke, and one grizzly bear cub, Jeb. Born at the Arctic Ring of Life, Astra was mother-reared by Suka, while Laerke—who experienced early seizures managed with a tailored medication protocol—was hand-reared and later paired with Jeb to promote social development.

Methods:
• Faecal Sample Collection & Hormone Analysis: Over the period from March 2021 to July 2022, 790 faecal samples were collected, lyophilised, pulverised, and extracted with 80% ethanol for cortisol analysis using a validated multi-species immunoassay.
• Behavioural Observations: A total of 119 hours of live observations were conducted using 15-minute focal follows with 1-minute scans via ZooMonitor, ensuring reliable data with regular inter-observer testing.
• Data Integration: Faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentrations (adjusted for dry weight and log-transformed) were analysed using generalised linear mixed models, with predictors including age, environmental conditions, and social proximity.

Results:
• Age Matters: Age was the strongest predictor of FGM levels across all subjects.
• Social Dynamics: Laerke’s stress hormone levels increased when housed with Jeb compared to isolation, while Jeb’s FGMs were lower overall and decreased when he was in close contact with Laerke.
• Behavioural Correlations: Astra’s FGM levels rose with increased social and locomotory activity, and Laerke’s levels were also affected by the frequency of negative social interactions and time spent in abnormal behaviours.

Overall, despite the small sample size, these findings demonstrate that adapting social and environmental conditions to the individual age and behaviour of bear cubs may help reduce stress, ultimately enhancing their welfare in captivity.

Have you used similar methods in your facilities? Let us know in the comments!

#DeepDive #AnimalWelfare #ZooAnimalWelfare #PolarBears #GrizzlyBears #FGM #BehaviouralResearch #ZooScience #DetroitZoo #ConservationScience [images AWE artistic liberty not actual study animals]

Which Zoo Animals Adapt Best? Behavioral Flexibility & Welfare in Zoos

A new review by Kelly et al. (2025) examines how well animals adjust to captivity by comparing time‐activity budgets of zoo and wild animals across taxonomic groups.

Fully Flexible (Adapt Well in Zoos):
🐢 Tortoises & Testudines – Able to adjust to varying temperatures and environments.
🦘 Artiodactyls (e.g. deer & antelope) – Despite changes in foraging, they show minimal abnormal behaviours.
🦜 Completely Migratory Species – Naturally accustomed to diverse environments.
🐒 Ring-Tailed Lemurs – Their mix of terrestrial and arboreal behaviours helps them thrive in zoos.

Partially Flexible (Can Adapt, With Specific Needs):
🦁 Carnivores & Generalist Herbivores – Exhibit some plasticity but require careful management.
🦜 Some Parrots (Psittaciformes) – Disrupted foraging and social behaviours indicate variable flexibility.

Behaviourally Inflexible (Higher Welfare Risk):
🦍 Primates (especially great apes) – Prone to abnormal behaviours (e.g. pacing, self-harm) and increased aggression.
🦜 Cognitively Complex Parrots – More likely to develop stereotypic behaviours (e.g. feather plucking).
🦒 Specialist Herbivores – High levels of abnormal behaviours, likely due to feeding restrictions.

Can behavioral flexibility predict welfare? Conservatively, yes: fully flexible species adapt well, while inflexible ones are more prone to stress. Key indicators include foraging and reproductive behaviours.

Kelly, R., Freeman, M., & Rose, P. (2025). What behavior is important behavior? A systematic review of how wild and zoo‐housed animals differ in their time‐activity budgets. Frontiers in Ethology, 4, 1517294.

This post continues on from the previous announcement that Animal Welfare Expertise lead the development of TUI's recently launched Cetacean Welfare Audit program.

In the welfare science field, the word 'Audit' can generally be used interchangeably with 'Assessment' - the goal is the same, to evaluate welfare, but often audits are slightly shorter and more regulatory in nature than assessments.

The innovative aspect with TUI's new program is that it includes an Operational Audit, which mainly focuses on resource-based measures of welfare that are common across legislation and regulatory standards, as well as an Advanced Welfare Audit, which collected detailed animal-based welfare data from individual behavioural observations, photos, and husbandry records. The image shows the level of detail included in each of these audit elements.

The Advanced Welfare Audit has its foundations in AWE's C-Well assessment, using the latest versions of the cetacean welfare measures we apply on-site around the world. The TUI Audit however goes even further than the C-Well as it includes four-tier scoring, where the highest level is designed to sit above current industry practice. To properly apply these measures, TUI auditors must be specialists in cetacean welfare and its assessment.

Summary of Audit content:
✅ Based on the Five-Domains Model, assessing nutrition, health, environment, behavior, and mental state
✅ Includes 128 welfare measures across six core values
✅ Uses animal-based indicators rather than just facility conditions
✅ Includes a four-tiered scoring system
✅ Provides a welfare score to track improvements over time

Launched in Summer 2024, we believe this program sets a new benchmark—one that prioritises the real-time welfare of cetaceans who reside in the facilities that the tourism industry helped elevate.

Infographic credit: TUI Group

In this seminar we will build on the topics that we covered during our first, free seminar on the role of nutrition in animal welfare. We will dive deeper into topics such as the role of micronutrients and food presentation in animal welfare, discussing recent research findings.

If you are looking to learn more about animal nutrition and how it is entangled in animal welfare. In this seminar, we will build on the topics we covered during our first free seminar on the role of nutrition in animal welfare.

We will dive deeper into topics such as the role of micronutrients and food presentation in animal welfare, discussing recent research findings. If you are looking to learn more about animal nutrition and how it is entangled in animal welfare, this seminar

Purchase access to this seminar and others using the Shop page of our website: animalwelfareexpertise.com/shop

OR Check out our NEW Memberships on our website! www.animalwelfareexpertise.com

🐬 Setting a New Standard for Cetacean Welfare with TUI 🐬

We at Animal Welfare Expertise are proud to have developed and delivered training for the Cetacean Welfare Audit Program—a groundbreaking initiative launched by TUI to ensure higher welfare standards for cetaceans in human care.

Unlike other species, there are no updated ABTA (the British travel industry body) guidelines for cetaceans, leaving a gap in welfare assessment. To address this, we worked with TUI to create a comprehensive, science-based audit process that evaluates the welfare of dolphins and whales in marine facilities worldwide.

For context, TUI are a tourism group that sell tours that can include cetacean experiences: they do not own these facilities. Tourism groups are obviously one of the key stakeholders responsible for the past success of the captive cetacean industry and making it what it is today.

In the past few years, we’ve seen other tourism providers either wash their hands of the captive cetacean issue and enact “stop sells”, where they won’t sell tickets to facilities but also don’t invest in any solutions for the animals that they say are in poor welfare. We’ve also seen strong NGO support of this position, but again, without practical solutions (see our post last week about the Marineland orcas).

For these reasons, we applaud TUI for taking a stand and trying to be part of the short to medium-term solution: improving conditions for captive cetaceans, whilst not excluding the possiblity that other projects in the future might provide alternative environments for them.

Stay tuned for a post later this week on the aims and scope of the new TUI audit, and how it’s being applied.

Two orcas, Wikie (23) and her son Keijo (11), are still housed at Marineland Antibes after the park shut its doors in January. Their future remains uncertain, caught between political delays and conflicting interests.

As is expected after a park closes, resources will be reduced and the facility is being wound down. While staff continue to care for them, the closure likely means fewer trainers, reduced enrichment, and a facility no longer designed to operate at full capacity. Wikie and Keijo, who have only ever known human care, now face an unstable, uncertain future, where delays and indecision can only lead to reductions in welfare.

Marineland originally planned to transfer them to Loro Parque in Spain, but this has been met with fierce opposition from campaigners due to concerns over past orca deaths and potential breeding programs. The Whale Sanctuary Project in Canada - where a site is selected but is not yet ready to accept animals - was rejected for being too cold, and now France’s ecology minister has proposed a new European sanctuary but without providing any details, funding, or a clear timeline.

AWE has been involved in welfare assessments and has advised on both dolphin and beluga sanctuaries, and we know how much it takes to set up and run a successful sanctuary project. We support these killer whales moving to a more suitable location with social opportunities to improve their short to medium-term welfare, and right now, the only option for this is another public display facility.

This is not to say that we are sure that public display facilities are able to provide optimal welfare conditions for orcas - we couldn't say this without assessing them in-depth - but in this case the animals have to move from where they are currently, so practical solutions are needed to at least improve welfare somewhat.

Photo credit: AFP

Consensus-building process: Embracing Scientific Debate in Animal Welfare 🌟🐾
Although we've been posting on how to build agreement between different points of view, we should always remember that science at it's heart isn't about always agreeing—it’s about exploring, testing, and refining ideas.

Therefore the option to disagree respectfully should always be built into any evidence-based animal welfare project, especially because:

🔬 Diverse perspectives enrich understanding: Differing opinions push us to ask better questions and consider alternatives.

❌ Disproving theories is progress: If a hypothesis doesn’t hold up, it brings us closer to the truth and improves future welfare decisions.

🌈 Humility matters: No single person has all the answers. A willingness to learn, adapt, and listen to others is key to advancing animal welfare.

Keeping all these things in mind is difficult, especially if you're facilitiating a group of people who don't know each other that well, or where there really is little welfare evidence available. However if the shared goal is truly to improve the lives of the animals we care for, projects will naturally aim to build consensus where possible and encourage disagreement where appropriate.

🐬 DIY Firehose Raft Enrichment 🌊

A huge thank you to Resorts World Sentosa for developing and sharing this engaging enrichment idea! Their dedication to marine animal welfare and creativity in designing sensory experiences for the animals in their care is inspiring. 🌟

Here’s how to make one! 🛠️

🔹 Materials Needed:
✅ Firehose (upcycled if possible)
✅ 316 Stainless Steel Machine Screws, Nuts & Washers
✅ Iceberg Float (or similar floating platform)
✅ Epoxy

🏗 Step-by-Step Guide:
🔹 Step 1: Prepare the Frame
1️⃣ Measure the length and width of the ice flow float or another floating platform.
2️⃣ Cut firehose strips 2.5 to 3 times the length of the float, accounting for the height as well.
3️⃣ Lay the strips side by side on the ground, ensuring there are enough to cover the float.

🔹 Step 2: Weaving the Raft
4️⃣ Begin weaving horizontal strips over and under the vertical strips.
5️⃣ Continue weaving until all strips are interlaced securely.
6️⃣ Flip the ends of the strips over the float and continue weaving until 2 out of the 4 sides are wrapped.
7️⃣ Pull and tighten the weaves to ensure a compact and sturdy structure.

🔹 Step 3: Securing the Structure
8️⃣ The two remaining open ends should have three strips each (one wrapping around and two woven in).
9️⃣ Drill holes and secure the layers with stainless steel screws, nuts, and washers to prevent unraveling.
🔟 Alternate the screws along the open ends to maintain even tension.

🔹 Step 4: Final Touches for Safety
1️⃣1️⃣ Trim any excess firehose.
1️⃣2️⃣ Apply epoxy over screws and nuts to cover sharp edges and prevent any loosening.

🛠 Tips & Safety Considerations:
✅ Use marine-grade stainless steel to prevent corrosion.
✅ Inspect the structure after each use to ensure screws remain tight.
✅ Allow drying time for the epoxy before placing it in the water.
✅ Work in a team—having two or three people will make weaving and tightening much easier.

🐬 How Did the Dolphins Respond?
💙 Engaged in rubbing, sliding, and playful interactions.
💙 Used their rostrums to push and manipulate the raft.
💙 Enjoyed the texture and movement of the floating platform.

Head to our website to find more IdeaBox enrichment!

Consensus-buildilng process: using the Delphi Method to gather expert consensus 🧠🤝
You may have read about the Delphi Method in animal welfare publications, and it's also used across many social science and business applications to gather many people's opinions on a set of parameters.

In animal welfare, the Delphi Method has been shown to be a powerful tool for finding consensus among experts, especially when opinions differ. Animal Welfare Expertise are currently using this process in several projects, and are finding that it can be a very effective way to remotely gather important opinions from experts around the world in a systematic way.

Here's how the Delphi Method is applied generally:

1️⃣ Gather a panel of experts: They could be veterinarians, behavioural scientists, or experienced animal caretakers.

2️⃣ Anonymously share opinions: Experts give their input on specific welfare questions.

3️⃣ Iterate in rounds: Experts review a summary of the group's feedback, often revising their views as they see other perspectives.

4️⃣ Reach consensus: After a few rounds, the group often converges on shared conclusions or identifies key points of disagreement.

The Delphi Method minimises bias, encourages thoughtful reflection, and promotes collaborative decision-making—perfect for tackling tough welfare challenges.

The behaviors and needs of nocturnal animals are often overlooked, but a recent study published in Animals by French et al. (2024) highlights how technology can enhance their welfare. Through a workshop called Moon Jam (what a cool name!), experts, designers, and researchers collaborated to address challenges like lighting, foraging, and sensory enrichment for nocturnal species such as aye-ayes, armadillos, and vampire bats.

Participants designed innovative solutions, like automated lighting systems mimicking natural cycles, scent-based enrichment to promote foraging, and interactive food dispensers tailored to species-specific behaviors. These solutions not only improve animal welfare but also enhance visitor experiences by showcasing natural behaviors.

The study emphasizes the importance of a multidisciplinary approach and technology in creating dynamic, species-centered environments. With careful design, we can replicate natural habitats and improve the lives of animals in managed care—an inspiring step forward in zoo welfare practices!

Want to dive deeper? Check out “Welfare and Enrichment of Managed Nocturnal Species, Supported by Technology” by French et al. (2024) in the journal Animals! 🚀 French, F., Bwye, P., Carrigan, L., Coe, J. C., Kelly, R., Leek, T., ... & Mingee, C. (2024). Welfare and enrichment of managed nocturnal species, supported by technology. Animals.

Consensus-buildling process: Finding Consensus Across Comparable Research 🦓🦒
Very often, evidence or research does not exist for the exact welfare parameter or species in which you're interested, and you have to rely on comparable species research and/or expert opinion.

🔗 For example, if research on giraffe welfare is sparse, studies on other browsing herbivores, like antelope or elephants, might offer insights.

🌍 Context matters too! If you're looking at research on animals in captivity, consider whether the study was conducted in zoos, aquariums, or sanctuaries—each environment can impact welfare differently. Or, if you're interested in one specific social parameter, try broadening the search to include more general social behaviour and see if you can find evidence that way.

By identifying patterns and parallels across species and situations, you can piece together a clearer picture of what best supports animal welfare.

Happy World Hippo Day! 🌍🦛

Hippopotamuses are keystone species that play a vital role in aquatic ecosystems, yet they face growing threats from habitat loss, human-wildlife conflict, and poaching. Ensuring their welfare—both in the wild and in managed care—requires a thorough understanding of their complex social structures, dietary needs, and environmental enrichment.

Conservation efforts must prioritise not only population protection but also the individual welfare of these iconic animals. By promoting habitat preservation, mitigating human-wildlife conflict, and supporting ethical management, we can help ensure a future where hippos continue to thrive.

#WorldHippoDay #HippoConservation #AnimalWelfare #BiodiversityProtection

NEW IDEA BOX ITEM! 🐬 Firehose Curtain: a sensory & cooperative foraging enrichment for dolphins, which could be applied to other animals too 🎭🐟

At Resorts World Sentosa, an innovative firehose curtain was designed to encourage cooperative foraging, sensory interaction, and social play in Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins.
🔹 Materials Needed:
✅ Firehose (upcycled if possible)
✅ PVC transparent strip curtain roll
✅ Leather stitcher & waxed thread
✅ 1-1/4 inch PVC pipe
✅ Noodle float
✅ Epoxy
✅ Sinking rings

🏗 Step-by-Step Guide:
🔹 Part A: Buoyant Frame
1️⃣ Cut a PVC pipe to the desired length (2m is ideal for group foraging).
2️⃣ Insert a cut noodle float into the pipe to ensure buoyancy.
3️⃣ Seal both ends using epoxy and let it set.
4️⃣ Cut a firehose strip slightly longer than the PVC pipe.
5️⃣ Insert the pipe into the firehose and sew both ends securely.

🔹 Part B: Firehose Strips
6️⃣ Cut firehose strips to the desired vertical length.
7️⃣ Split each strip into two separate layers for easier stitching.
8️⃣ Sew loops onto the strips using a leather stitcher.

🔹 Part C: Weighted Strips
🔟 Cut additional firehose strips for weighted ends.
1️⃣1️⃣ Attach sinking rings by sewing loops at the ends.

🔹 Part D: Transparent Curtain Strips
1️⃣2️⃣ Cut the PVC curtain roll to the desired length.
1️⃣3️⃣ Loop each strip over Part A and sew it securely.
1️⃣4️⃣ The firehose strips on either end will help hold the PVC strips in place.

🔹 Final Assembly
1️⃣5️⃣ Combine all strips and sew everything together securely.

🛠 Tips & Safety Considerations:
✅ Ensure stitching is strong to prevent strips from tearing apart.
✅ Regularly inspect for loose stitches and reinforce when necessary.
✅ Balance buoyancy vs weight for stability in water.
✅ Introduce the device gradually for animals needing desensitisation.

💡 This enrichment idea was made available through AWE’s IdeaBox initiative—check out more creative designs at www.animalwelfareexpertise.com/ideabox! 🛠️

#AnimalEnrichment #DolphinWelfare #DIYEnrichment #MarineAnimalCare #InnovativeDesign

Enrichment isn’t just about keeping animals occupied—it should engage their cognitive abilities and encourage problem-solving, just as they would experience in the wild. Animals naturally face challenges in their environments, from navigating landscapes to using tools and cooperating with others to access resources.

However, many enrichment programs focus solely on physical behaviours like food searching and consumption, missing the opportunity to stimulate higher-level cognitive processes.

💡 Why Challenge Matters:
✅ Encourages natural problem-solving skills
✅ Helps prevent boredom and abnormal behaviours
✅ Builds confidence and adaptability
✅ Supports learning, memory, and emotional resilience

While presenting animals with problems may induce short-term frustration, appropriate challenge is a key component of a successful enrichment program—as long as animals have the tools to succeed. By designing enrichment that balances physical and cognitive engagement, we can enhance welfare and behavioural flexibility in captive settings.

📊 This infographic is adapted from Meehan & Mench (2007), highlighting the importance of cognitive challenges in enrichment design.

Consensus-building process: Evaluating the Quality of Evidence in Animal Welfare Research 🧐📚
Not all research is created equal! When you’re reading studies to improve animal welfare, it’s vital to evaluate the quality of evidence. Here are a few key tips:

🔍 Check the sample size: Were enough animals studied to make the findings reliable? Small sample sizes can lead to conclusions that don’t apply broadly.

📊 Look for robust methods: Did the researchers use validated tools or assessments? Clear, repeatable methods often lead to stronger conclusions.

💡 Beware of bias: Was the study funded or conducted by groups with a vested interest in specific results? Transparency matters!

📚 Compare findings: Are other studies saying the same thing, or is this an outlier? Consensus across multiple studies often strengthens confidence.

There’s not an exact algorithm to assess the quality of evidence presented (yet!), but if you keep these points at the forefront of your projects you should at least be able to avoid misleading or unreliable research.

We are working on a few projects building consensus across a wide range of research and between many, international experts, and it got us thinking about how important this process is to the field of animal welfare. So, this month, we’re focusing a few posts on some different ways and tips to build consensus.

In general, finding consensus among research findings and expert opinions requires a thoughtful and open-minded approach. We recommend starting by evaluating the quality of evidence, focusing on sample sizes, robust methods, and transparency. If direct research is limited, look to comparable species and similar contexts for valuable insights.

Tools like the Delphi Method can help build consensus by fostering iterative, unbiased discussions among experts.

Lastly, remember that science thrives on debate—proving and disproving theories drives progress, and humility allows us to embrace diverse perspectives and continually improve the welfare of the animals in our care.

This is your reminder!

📢 Reminder! Join us on February 6th at 7 PM UTC for the free seminar:

“Conservation in Zoos: What Zoos Can Do for Wildlife and How They Can Talk About It.”

Learn how zoos contribute to conservation and how they can effectively communicate their efforts. Don’t miss out!

🔗 Comment LINK for the registration link or check out our story!

#WildlifeConservation #ZoosForConservation #ScienceCommunication

We’re excited to share this enrichment device idea from Saskia Verbruggen, from Roundeurope Animal Training, that promotes mental stimulation and engagement for birds in captivity. The Fidget Board is a versatile and creative way to encourage natural behaviours and problem-solving skills.

Materials Needed:

Metal, wood, plastic, grasses, or any other safe materials you have available (we recommend using materials that would otherwise be discarded)
Hooks or rings to secure the board in the aviary or on the ground
Step-by-Step Construction:
1️⃣ Gather materials: Look online for ideas and assess what materials you have available. (See Photos 3-6)
2️⃣ Start building: Assemble the board, securing materials like rings, mirrors, and other interactive elements.
3️⃣ Attach the board: You can mount it on the side of the aviary or place it on the ground securely (make sure it won’t tip over).
4️⃣ Test it: Ensure everything is safely secured, with no sharp edges or parts that could be broken off and ingested.
5️⃣ Add food: Use food to encourage interaction with the board.

Time to Make: Around 2-3 hours, can be done in stages or by volunteers
Cost: Approx. €10-20, depending on materials
Safety Tips: Ensure all elements are securely attached, and no small parts can be swallowed. Test the board for stability and safety.

Animals’ Response:
The Fidget Board has been a hit with vultures, seriema, and caracaras! Observed behaviours include:

Pulling, pecking, and looking in mirrors
Playing with rings and interacting with other elements (See Photos 7-10 & the video “fidgetboard”)
Some initial hesitation, but with food rewards, the birds quickly became engaged!
Pro Tip: To maintain interest, keep adding new items or changing the arrangement on the board to keep the experience fresh! 🌟

This enrichment idea not only encourages problem-solving but also provides a great way to recycle materials into something meaningful for the animals.

Credit: This idea was submitted by Saskia Verbruggen, Roundeurope Animal Training, and tested at Landgoed Hoenderdaell.

#AnimalEnrichment #BirdEnrichment #MentalStimulation #AnimalCare #EnrichmentIdeas #ZooWelfare #Conservation

At Animal Welfare Expertise, we’re committed to sharing the latest research on animal welfare and behaviour, and we’re excited to continue bringing you valuable insights. As the knowledge in this field grows, integrating these findings into practical applications is crucial for improving the care and well-being of animals under human care.

🌍 What’s Next?
We’ll be sharing articles, research findings, and expert opinions on how to implement these insights in real-world settings. Stay tuned as we explore how this growing knowledge can directly benefit animal welfare practices across various environments.

🎥 Check out the video!
We’re sharing our latest thoughts on integrating research into practice to ensure animals live healthier, happier lives.

#AnimalWelfare #AnimalBehaviour #ResearchToPractice #AnimalCare #WelfareInAction #ConservationScience #AnimalWellbeing

Join us for an engaging and insightful discussion on "Conservation in Zoos: What Zoos Can Do for Wildlife and How To Talk About It." This seminar is completely free and open to everyone, making it the perfect opportunity to learn how zoos contribute to wildlife conservation and how they communicate their vital work.

🗓 Date: February 6th
⏰ Time: 7 PM UTC
💻 Cost: FREE for all!
📌 Register: comment LINK for the registration link!

Don’t miss this chance to gain valuable insights into the conservation efforts happening in zoos worldwide! See you there.

If you're interested in welfare and how to measure it, no doubt you'll have heard of the Five Domains model proposed by David Mellor and colleagues. Although highly sucessful, there has been little discourse over how it is used.

A recent study critically examines the Five Domains model - not to say we shouldn't use it, but just to highlight some risks in how some are applying it and where its real strengths lie. Given how widely it is being applied, we think this is a very useful and necessary paper.

The key issue comes with the use of the Five Domains model as a quantitative assessment tool, since it was not designed for this and requires much adaptation. This has led to a few risks that the authors highlight:

🔸 Subjectivity in Expert Opinion – The selection of experts on panels scoring domains or measures is often opaque, and disagreements aren’t consistently resolved.
🔸 Lack of Repeatability – Few studies test the consistency of results across panels or over time or context.
🔸 Challenges in Aggregating Scores – The model’s domains can’t be easily combined into a reliable composite score.
🔸 Overlooking Indirect Impacts – Secondary consequences, like ecosystem-wide effects, are often ignored.
🔸 Insufficient Quantification of Uncertainty – Numerical scores suggest precision but rarely address uncertainty.

💡 Suggestions for Improvement:
The study advocates for refining the model, focusing on repeatability, transparency, and addressing uncertainty. The authors recommend using the model as a conceptual framework, rather than a standalone quantitative tool, until these issues are addressed.

🔍 Despite the content of the paper, we strongly believe that the Five Domains model represents one of the most significant advances in welfare science over the last few decades. We support the authors' opinion that healthy discourse and constructive criticism are necessary elements of the scientific process (and life in general!), and should continue to be promoted.

Hampton JO, Hemsworth LM, Hemsworth PH, Hyndman TH and Sandøe P (2023). Rethinking the utility of the Five Domains model. Animal Welfare, 32, e62, 1–10

Over the past few months, we’ve explored the complexities of social welfare for animals in managed care. Now, let’s dive into one fascinating application: multi-species exhibits and how we assess welfare in these settings.

For example, how do you tackle welfare evaluations in a large multi-species aquarium pool? We hope this video gives you some insight, and reveals why welfare assessments are imperfect, but as long as they’re transparent, logical, and evidence-based, they will very likely be providing useful information.

#AnimalWelfare #SocialWelfare #ZooLife #MultispeciesExhibits #ConservationEducation #WildlifeCare #SustainableZoos #AnimalBehaviour

💡 Step-by-Step: Creating the Food Retrieval Tube Enrichment in our Bird Ideabox 🦜

Goal-based enrichment is key to ensuring animals engage in natural behaviours and stay mentally stimulated. This Food Retrieval Tube is a simple yet effective way to encourage foraging and problem-solving in your birds and other animals - full details are on our website int he Bird Ideabox.

Materials Needed:

Cardboard tubes (e.g., poster tubes)
Sisal rope
Step 1: Cut the Tube
Cut the cardboard tube to the desired length to suit your animal’s size and space.

Step 2: Create Holes
Use scissors or a knife to make holes along the tube. These will be used to secure food items inside the tube. (See Movie 1 for an example).

Step 3: Insert Sisal Rope
Thread the sisal rope through the tube, tying knots to secure food. This makes it more challenging for the animals to retrieve. (See Movie 2 for a demonstration).

Step 4: Install the Tube
Put the tube inside the enclosure, ensuring it’s easily accessible but encourages the animals to work for their food.

Step 5: Observe Behaviour
Watch as the animals explore, pull, and forage—this enriches their environment and encourages natural foraging behaviours.

Time to Create: Approximately 10 minutes!
Cost: Minimal – just the cost of the cardboard tubes.

Safety Considerations: No safety concerns observed in use. Ensure all materials are safe for your species.

Enrichment Impact: This tube encourages foraging, problem-solving, and interaction with the environment. It’s a simple, cost-effective way to promote animal welfare!

Credit:
This enrichment idea was submitted by Saskia Verbruggen, Roundeurope Animal Training, and tested with various species at Landgoed Hoenderdaell.

#AnimalEnrichment #Foraging #MentalStimulation #ZooWelfare #AnimalCare #EnrichmentIdeas #AnimalBehaviour #Conservation

🔊 Sound On! 🐒 Listen closely as you hear the monkeys’ alarm calls in the background.

🌿 Why Maintaining Anti-Predator Traits is Crucial for Animal Welfare & Conservation 🦁

In wildlife conservation, it’s not just about protecting animals from harm; it’s about ensuring they can survive and thrive in the wild. Retaining anti-predator traits of temporarily captive animals is essential for animal welfare and critical for species reintroduced into their natural habitats. While conservation organisations are designed to provide a safe, predator-free environment, this can unintentionally lead to the loss of key survival behaviours such as heightened vigilance, fear responses, and rapid reactions to threats.

Without these traits, animals may struggle to adapt once released into areas where natural or invasive predators are present. The welfare of these animals is deeply tied to their ability to exhibit natural survival behaviours—if they cannot protect themselves, their overall welfare and long-term survival are at risk.

Research suggests that low-level predation pressure within conservation enclosures can help prevent the loss of these vital behaviours, ensuring that animals remain equipped to survive in the wild. By allowing animals to experience some level of predation risk, we can help them maintain these survival instincts, which are essential not only for their safety but for their welfare in a reintroduced environment.

Let us know what you think.

📹 Video Credit: Alexandra N Hofner from her project in Sri Lanka.

🔍 Cited Articles:

Harrison, N. D., Phillips, B. L., Wayne, A. F., & Mitchell, N. J. (2024). Sustained predation pressure may prevent the loss of anti-predator traits from havened populations. Ecology and Evolution. 14(7), e11668.

For our first article digest post of 2025, we’d like to recommend this fascinating paper on social play in wild adult chimpanzees. The authors studied 57 wild chimpanzees in Tai National Park, Cote d’Ivoire.

We’re always interested in social play as it’s very relevant to welfare, but can have complexities in adult animals that can confuse welfare evaluations. This is showcased in the current paper where it was found that more play was found in tense and conflict situations.

In the paper Samuni et al. (2024) have highlighted the following points:

> Social play occurs throughout the chimpanzee lifespan, serving various functions

> Chimpanzee social play precedes and promotes collective cooperation

> Adult chimpanzees play more in tense situations and following intragroup conflicts

> Social familiarity influences adult chimpanzee selection of play partners

Adult chimpanzee social play seems to diffuse tension, supports social bonds and collective cooperation. The sustained significance of play throughout the chimpanzee lifespan indicates that the social benefits derived from play
outweigh its energetic costs.

Graphic credit to Samuni et al. (2024), full reference: Samuni, L., Mielke, A., Crockford, C., & Wittig, R. M. (2024). Social play fosters cooperation in wild adult chimpanzees. Current Biology. https://www.cell.com/current-biology/abstract/S0960-9822(24)01453-2

💥Kicking off 2025 with a bang!! 💥 We’re offering 50% off our seminar recordings for the next week only.

Instead of jumping on the Black Friday wagon last year, we decided we wanted to run a special offer right at the beginning of 2025, to help people match their New Year’s intentions with action and get through what is sometimes an unmotivating month, espeically for those in the northern hemisphere who are hibernating in winter.

So, treat yourself to some animal welfare learning, or gift these to a friend, and join us in spreading the love on measuring welfare to better understand and optimise it for those animals we are responsible for!

All of our seminar recordings can be accessed on the Shop page of our website. Visit https://www.animalwelfareexpertise.com/shop to see our selection of topics!

A new systematic review published in Animal Behavior and Cognition explores how public perceptions of zoo animal welfare shape attitudes, visitor experiences, and behavioural intentions. Analysing 114 studies, the research highlights key factors influencing welfare perceptions:

Human factors: Ethical views on captivity, visitor interactions, and inappropriate visitor behaviours.
Animal factors: Observable behaviours, apparent health, and suitability for captivity.
Environmental factors: Exhibit conditions, enrichment, and educational materials.

The findings are not surprising but nevertheless powerful: they reveal that negative welfare perceptions can harm visitor engagement, reduce financial support, and deter conservation efforts. Conversely, positive perceptions foster meaningful connections and support zoos’ educational and conservation missions.

🔍 Key takeaway: The interplay between public perception and welfare practices underscores the importance of transparent communication, high standards of care, and effective education in shaping zoo experiences.

📖 Read the full study here: Phillips, N., Maréchal, L., Ventura, B., & Cooper, J. (2024). How do perceptions of zoo animal welfare influence public attitudes, experiences, and behavioral intentions? A mixed-methods systematic review. Animal Behavior and Cognition, 11(4), 404-431.

What are your thoughts on the role of public perception in animal welfare standards in zoos? Share below! 💬

#ZooAnimalWelfare #AnimalCare #Conservation

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