Welfare Wednesday- February 26 2025

Hi All!

Here is another edition of Welfare Wednesday, which features one animal welfare article that you may find interesting and one enrichment idea for you to try!

Welfare Article Summary?

Rose, P. E., & Lewton, J. (2024). Key Concepts for Enhancing Zoo Animal Welfare: Coping, Comfort, Choice, Control, Challenge, and Compassion.?Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 1–18. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2024.2440891

Introduction

• The "Six Cs" framework—Coping, Comfort, Choice, Control, Challenge, and Compassion—offers a holistic approach to improving zoo animal welfare, considering both animal needs and the role of human caretakers.

Coping & Comfort

• Coping Mechanisms: Animals adapt to their environment through behavioral and physiological responses, such as stereotypic behaviors and stress hormone levels.
• Indicators of Comfort: Thriving animals display positive behaviors like relaxed postures and play, which can be measured through welfare assessments.Zoo Welfare Assessments: Tools like Qualitative Behavioral Assessment (QBA) help analyze an animal’s internal state to improve husbandry practices.
• Agricultural Welfare Models: Farming welfare indices (e.g., cow comfort measures) can be adapted for zoo animals to standardize welfare assessments.

Choice & Control

• Enhancing Autonomy: Meaningful choices in enrichment, enclosure design, and social interactions improve welfare.
• Freedom of Movement: Access to enclosure areas and voluntary activities (e.g., foraging, mating) supports well-being.
• Contrafreeloading & Preference Testing: Encouraging animals to work for rewards increases control over their environment and cognitive engagement.

Challenge

• Cognitive Stimulation: Problem-solving opportunities promote behavioral flexibility and resilience.
• Eustress vs. Distress: Positive stress fosters coping mechanisms and prevents boredom.
• Adaptive Behaviors & Conservation: Controlled challenges help animals develop skills for reintroduction and natural behavior expression.
• Individualized Monitoring: Ensuring cognitive tasks remain beneficial and do not induce chronic stress.

Compassion

• For Animals: Evidence-based care, ethical decision-making, and long-term welfare planning tailored to species and individual needs.
• For Humans: Support for zoo staff’s mental health, prevention of compassion fatigue, and empowerment through training and resources to sustain high welfare standards.

New Podcast Episode with one of the above Articles Authors ??

• Ep. 60- Ecologically Relevant Husbandry and Exhibit Design with Dr. Paul Rose
• In this episode I am joined by Dr. Paul Rose. In this wide ranging conversation, we discuss topics such as ecologically relevant ?husbandry, exhibit design as well as some of Paul's research in the field of animal welfare. Enjoy!

As always, thank you so much for reading!?

Have a great week,

Kyle?