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Animals
Special Issues
The Behaviour, Needs and Welfare of Pinnipeds in Human Care
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The Behaviour, Needs and Welfare of Pinnipeds in Human Care

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Zoo Animals".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2026 | Viewed by 2501

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Susan C. Wilson
*
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Tara Seal Research, 141 Victoria Road, Mablethorpe, Lincolnshire LN12 2AL, UK
Interests: seals; behavioural ecology; mother–pup behaviour; juvenile development; play; captive care; welfare; habitat disturbance; sea pollution
* Dr. Susan Wilson is a free-lance consultant in seal behavioural biology, ecology, and welfare. Her published research has focused on mother-pup behaviour, juvenile development, and behavioural ecology of seals in the UK, North America, and the Caspian Sea

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The reasons that pinnipeds (including seals, fur seals, sea lions, and walruses) may be kept in captivity include public display in zoos and aquaria, captive breeding for conservation purposes, scientific research, and temporary captivity for rehabilitation of stranded animals (often infants). Historically, poor understanding of the natural behaviours and habitats of pinniped species may have led to limited understanding by human carers of the ways in which the social and physical environment of captive pinnipeds would affect their mental and physical state. Now, however, there is a growing plethora of literature on pinniped behaviour and ecology, which can inform modern design of captive animals’ social and physical environment in such a way as to allow the expression of the natural behaviour repertoire and full cognitive capacities and eliminate stereotypic behaviours such as patterned swimming. Deep sea environments and natural prey are seldom possible to be simulated in captivity. However, most pinnipeds are highly social around their coastal (or ice) habitats, which may therefore inform enclosure design and 3D aquatic space required for physical and mental health. Thus, studies are required to create an ethogram for each species and develop welfare assessment tools accordingly.

This Special Issue of Animals welcomes reports or reviews contributing to better understanding the needs of pinnipeds of any species in human care for any reason.

Dr. Susan C. Wilson
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Animals is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • pinnipeds
  • seals
  • sea lions
  • walruses
  • captive care
  • zoos
  • aquaria
  • seal rescue
  • behaviour
  • welfare assessment

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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25 pages, 2111 KB  
Article
Anticipatory Behavior and Enrichment: Insights into Assessing and Managing Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) Pup Welfare in a Wildlife Rehabilitation Setting
by Karli R. Chudeau, Sophie Guarasci, Bethany Krebs, Cara Field and Jason V. Watters
Animals 2025, 15(22), 3237; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15223237 - 7 Nov 2025
Viewed by 548
Abstract
The assessment of animal welfare in rehabilitation settings is a critical aspect of effective care, yet typical metrics often fail to fully capture rehabilitating animals’ emotional experiences in a non-invasive way. Anticipatory behavior has emerged as a promising animal welfare indicator, reflecting an [...] Read more.
The assessment of animal welfare in rehabilitation settings is a critical aspect of effective care, yet typical metrics often fail to fully capture rehabilitating animals’ emotional experiences in a non-invasive way. Anticipatory behavior has emerged as a promising animal welfare indicator, reflecting an animal’s perceived need for rewards based on available opportunities in their environment. By tracking anticipatory responses, caretakers can gain insight into an animal’s reward sensitivity and use this information to guide management interventions. This study investigated the effects of enrichment type on anticipatory behavior in fourteen, rehabilitating harbor seal pups (Phoca vitulina richardii). We provided pups with daily sessions of either structural or cognitive enrichment and recorded their behavioral responses. During scheduled feeding sessions, we identified behaviors that emerged as anticipatory, then measured the frequency and duration of anticipatory behavior prior to the feeds to assess how enrichment types influenced the seals’ reward sensitivity, and thus their welfare. While enrichment interaction did not directly modulate anticipatory behavior, we observed a trend suggesting that exposure to cognitive enrichment reduced anticipatory behavior duration compared to structural enrichment. These findings align with previous research in zoo settings, where cognitive enrichment has been linked to improved welfare through reduced anticipatory behavior, though this effect has not been explored in a wildlife rehabilitation context. This study highlights the value of anticipatory behavior as a practical welfare assessment tool in rehabilitation settings and underscores the potential for enrichment, particularly cognitive, to improve welfare in rehabilitating marine mammals. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Behaviour, Needs and Welfare of Pinnipeds in Human Care)
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14 pages, 4108 KB  
Article
A Multimodal Approach to Treatment and Management of Rumination Syndrome in a California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)
by Amber M. Ramos, Abby McClain, Jennifer M. Dunham, Christian Harris, Jenny Meegan, Barbara K. Linnehan, Kyle P. Ross, Craig Swepston and Mark J. Xitco, Jr.
Animals 2025, 15(20), 3039; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15203039 - 20 Oct 2025
Viewed by 615
Abstract
The management of chronic rumination syndrome in professionally cared-for animals requires a comprehensive and individualized approach. In this case study, a multimodal approach incorporating pharmacological treatment, feeding modifications, and behavioral management was applied to a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) with [...] Read more.
The management of chronic rumination syndrome in professionally cared-for animals requires a comprehensive and individualized approach. In this case study, a multimodal approach incorporating pharmacological treatment, feeding modifications, and behavioral management was applied to a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) with rumination syndrome, megaesophagus, and hypothyroidism. Behavioral observations were collected through video recordings both prior to and post-intervention. Interventions included oral naltrexone and contingent reinforcement post-feed to provide alternative enrichment activities after feeding sessions to reduce rumination syndrome, as well as levothyroxine for hypothyroidism. Additionally, dietary modifications involved offering smaller food portions, spreading meals across longer time periods, and feeding in a more upright position to facilitate esophageal passage. Results showed a reduction in the frequency of rumination syndrome, with no visible regurgitated material observed five months post-intervention. The sea lion demonstrated improved engagement in training sessions, voluntary husbandry tasks, and open-water activities, as well as improved interactions with conspecifics. The combination of pharmacological, dietary, and behavioral strategies reduced rumination behavior and improved the animal’s overall quality of life, reinforcing the value of individualized care strategies and multimodal treatment plans in addressing complex medical and behavioral comorbidities. These findings show the importance of individualized, multimodal care plans in managing complex behavioral and medical conditions, and they contribute to advancing animal-welfare practices across species. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Behaviour, Needs and Welfare of Pinnipeds in Human Care)
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12 pages, 881 KB  
Case Report
Sugammadex and Acceleromyography Used During a Lensectomy in a Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus)
by Magdalena Nowak, Shawn Johnson, Claire Simeone, Rocio Canales, Eduardo Huguet-Baudin and Martina Mosing
Animals 2025, 15(19), 2831; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15192831 - 28 Sep 2025
Viewed by 576
Abstract
Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) are essential in intraocular surgeries to improve surgical conditions and ensure optimal ventilation. However, residual blockade can pose significant risks, particularly in pinnipeds due to their unique diving physiology. This case report describes the use of sugammadex for reversing [...] Read more.
Neuromuscular blocking agents (NMBAs) are essential in intraocular surgeries to improve surgical conditions and ensure optimal ventilation. However, residual blockade can pose significant risks, particularly in pinnipeds due to their unique diving physiology. This case report describes the use of sugammadex for reversing rocuronium and AMG for monitoring neuromuscular block (NMB) in a California sea lion undergoing lensectomy. The objective is to evaluate the feasibility and safety of sugammadex for reversal of rocuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade and acceleromyography (AMG) for monitoring neuromuscular function in pinnipeds, with the goal of improving anesthetic management and recovery. Rocuronium (0.3 mg/kg IV) was used to achieve complete NMB, and an additional 0.1 mg/kg IV was administered to prolong the block. Sugammadex (1 mg/kg IV) reversed the NMB, with recovery within 90 s. Neuromuscular function was monitored using AMG, with the ulnar nerve of the foreflipper as the stimulation site. AMG allowed for an objective assessment of neuromuscular function, ensuring accurate titration of the NMBA and reversal agent. This is the first report documenting the use of sugammadex for the reversal of rocuronium and AMG for neuromuscular monitoring in a sea lion. This successful application highlights the potential of these techniques to improve anesthesia protocols, patient safety, and welfare in marine mammal medicine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Behaviour, Needs and Welfare of Pinnipeds in Human Care)
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