Editorial

3 pages, 142 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

Celebrating Women in Science: Pioneering Contributions to Animal Behaviour and Welfare

by Vera Baumans, Ismene A. Dontas and Pascalle L. P. Van Loo

Animals 2024, 14(8), 1184; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14081184 - 15 Apr 2024

Viewed by 334

In the scientific domain, women have historically demonstrated their dedication, intellect, and innovative input in relation to animal behaviour and welfare [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Animals Behaviour and Welfare)

Research

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12 pages, 1016 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selected Aspects of Reproductive Behavior of American Mink (Neovison vison) under Artificial Conditions

by Beata Seremak, Bogumiła Pilarczyk, Aleksandra Wojciechowska and Agnieszka Tomza-Marciniak

Animals 2023, 13(21), 3346; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13213346 - 27 Oct 2023

Viewed by 681

Abstract

Observation and behavioral analysis of animals can be one of the factors taken into consideration when assessing the welfare of animals kept in artificially created breeding conditions. Disturbed welfare and prolonged exposure to stress can lead to the emergence of abnormal behaviors, including [...] Read more.

Observation and behavioral analysis of animals can be one of the factors taken into consideration when assessing the welfare of animals kept in artificially created breeding conditions. Disturbed welfare and prolonged exposure to stress can lead to the emergence of abnormal behaviors, including reproductive issues. The aim of this study was to examine the mating behavior of male American mink, with regard to the duration of mating and any potential differences with regard to time of day, mating period, number of mating attempts, and time spent with the female. The study material consisted of 12 one-year-old male American minks with pearl coloring and 60 two-year-old females. Observations were conducted using images captured using externally mounted cameras. The video material capturing the activity of males and females during the mating period was analyzed using the Behawior program. The obtained results indicate the presence of individual differences in copulation duration. It was observed that the copulation time increases with successive days of the breeding season and with number of copulations. It was also observed that a longer time spent with the female to initiate copulation, and behaviors such as rubbing or sniffing the female, were associated with a shorter copulation time. The above-mentioned studies provide specific guidelines regarding the management of matings on the farm, demonstrating the feasibility of conducting matings both in the hours before and after noon. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Animals Behaviour and Welfare)

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15 pages, 1924 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Why All Healthy Laboratory Animals Should Be Rehomed, No Matter How Small

by Pascalle L. P. Van Loo and Monique R. E. Janssens

Animals 2023, 13(17), 2727; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13172727 - 28 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1330

Abstract

This paper explores the ethical imperative of rehoming all healthy animals of sentient species after experiments have finished or when they have become otherwise redundant. We take into account disparate perspectives in animal ethics and see how they point in the same direction. [...] Read more.

This paper explores the ethical imperative of rehoming all healthy animals of sentient species after experiments have finished or when they have become otherwise redundant. We take into account disparate perspectives in animal ethics and see how they point in the same direction. We illustrate our case with our own rehoming experience from the joint Animal Welfare Body of Utrecht University and the University Medical Centre Utrecht, the Netherlands. The primary pilot proved successful, after which the principle of rehoming became standing policy and common practice. We discuss several challenges and our responses to those through continuous evaluation of the adoption program. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Animals Behaviour and Welfare)

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22 pages, 2723 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Contrafreeloading Indicating the Behavioural Need to Forage in Healthy and Feather Damaging Grey Parrots

by Yvonne R. A. van Zeeland, Nico J. Schoemaker and Johannes T. Lumeij

Animals 2023, 13(16), 2635; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13162635 - 15 Aug 2023

Viewed by 1645

Abstract

Contrafreeloading (CFL) is a concept that describes the preference of an animal to work for food even when identical food is freely available, and reflects an intrinsic motivation to engage in foraging-related activities. However, altered brain neurochemistry, which can be induced by chronic [...] Read more.

Contrafreeloading (CFL) is a concept that describes the preference of an animal to work for food even when identical food is freely available, and reflects an intrinsic motivation to engage in foraging-related activities. However, altered brain neurochemistry, which can be induced by chronic exposure to a suboptimal living environment, may affect this intrinsic motivation in animals with abnormal repetitive behaviours (ARBs), including parrots with feather damaging behaviour. To determine whether this was the case, we evaluated CFL activity in healthy (n = 11) and feather damaging (n = 10) Grey parrots (Psittacus erithacus) by offering them a free choice to obtain identical food from a food bowl or from a foraging device. Differences in CFL activity were observed, with feather damaging Grey parrots displaying less CFL (as indicated by shorter foraging times and lower amounts of food consumed from the foraging devices) compared to healthy conspecifics, indicating altered ‘motivation’ and time allocation, for which the underlying mechanism needs to be clarified further. Nevertheless, despite the variable level, all birds displayed CFL, which, together with a seemingly positive correlation between CFL activity and the plumage condition of the birds, suggests that parrots are intrinsically motivated to forage and highlights the importance of providing foraging opportunities to captive parrots. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Animals Behaviour and Welfare)

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23 pages, 1140 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Adaptation of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to the Hierarchy of Dogs’ Needs Using a Consensus Building Approach

by Karen E. Griffin, Saskia S. Arndt and Claudia M. Vinke

Animals 2023, 13(16), 2620; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13162620 - 14 Aug 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 7505

Abstract

It is crucial for good dog welfare that humans be able to accurately and adequately recognize and meet dogs’ needs. However, humans may do a poor job of recognizing dogs’ needs due to their tendency to anthropomorphize. The aim of this study was [...] Read more.

It is crucial for good dog welfare that humans be able to accurately and adequately recognize and meet dogs’ needs. However, humans may do a poor job of recognizing dogs’ needs due to their tendency to anthropomorphize. The aim of this study was to develop a framework for dogs’ needs that would help humans to recognize and meet their actual needs, thereby improving dogs’ quality of life. Using the Delphi method, to reach as close to a consensus as possible from an expert panel, Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs was adapted to become the Dogs’ Hierarchy of Needs. To do so, the relevant scientific literature was reviewed to identify 37 specific dog needs, which were group into seven need groups. Those groups were then organized onto five need levels, which were as analogous to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs as possible. The expert panel was asked to assess various aspects of the adapted hierarchy in comparison to the original, including face validity, whether they agreed with how the need levels were ordered in terms of importance/priority, and whether they felt that any need groups should be more or less prioritized for any specific dog categories (e.g., senior dogs). After three rounds of expert feedback, there was sufficient consensus for all aspects except items pertaining to the prioritization of any need groups for specific dog categories. That aspect of the adapted hierarchy will need to be readdressed in the next phase of this project: the development of a tool to assess the quality of life of dogs that reside in shelters/rescue organizations and post-adoption once they have been rehomed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Animals Behaviour and Welfare)

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34 pages, 6463 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Understanding Circadian and Circannual Behavioral Cycles of Captive Giant Pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Can Help to Promote Good Welfare

by Kristine M. Gandia, Elizabeth S. Herrelko, Sharon E. Kessler and Hannah M. Buchanan-Smith

Animals 2023, 13(15), 2401; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13152401 - 25 Jul 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1336

Abstract

Circadian and circannual cycles of behavior regulate many aspects of welfare including metabolism, breeding, and behavioral interactions. In this study, we aim to demonstrate how systematically determining circadian and circannual cycles can provide insight into animals’ needs and be part of an evidence-based [...] Read more.

Circadian and circannual cycles of behavior regulate many aspects of welfare including metabolism, breeding, and behavioral interactions. In this study, we aim to demonstrate how systematically determining circadian and circannual cycles can provide insight into animals’ needs and be part of an evidence-based approach to welfare assessment. We measured and analyzed the observational behavioral data of 13 zoo-housed giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), across life stages and between sexes, each month for one year using live camera footage from six zoos across the world. Our results indicate that life stage was associated with changes in overall activity, feeding, locomotion, and pacing, and that sex influenced scent anointing and anogenital rubbing. Overall, the circadian rhythms showed three peaks of activity, including a nocturnal peak, as seen in wild giant pandas. We also found associations between sexual-related, stereotypical/abnormal, and feeding behavior, which are possibly linked to the timing of migration of wild pandas, and elucidated the relationship between a mother and cub, finding that they concentrate maternal behaviors to mainly after closing hours. Understanding these cycle patterns can aid animal care staff in predicting changing needs throughout the day, year, and life cycle and preemptively provide for those needs to best avoid welfare concerns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Animals Behaviour and Welfare)

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10 pages, 222 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

European Union Legislation for the Welfare of Animals Used for Scientific Purposes: Areas Identified for Further Discussion

by Katerina A. Marinou and Ismene A. Dontas

Animals 2023, 13(14), 2367; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13142367 - 20 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 915

Abstract

The Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council has been in force for more than a decade and has brought about significant improvements and novel requirements for the welfare of animals used for scientific purposes, while safeguarding research integrity. The [...] Read more.

The Directive 2010/63/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council has been in force for more than a decade and has brought about significant improvements and novel requirements for the welfare of animals used for scientific purposes, while safeguarding research integrity. The Directive sets clear provisions for its scope, the authorization procedures, animal welfare bodies, national committees, cost/benefit analysis, severity classification, retrospective assessment, and statistical reporting, among many others. From this perspective, indicative areas in the existing legislative texts and guidance documents, which may influence animal welfare and scientific integrity, have been identified by the authors after years of working in this field. Suggested solutions to address these areas by potential future revisions in the legislation or other actions to benefit animal welfare are discussed, with the aim to clarify and simplify them for all stakeholders involved. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Animals Behaviour and Welfare)

12 pages, 1477 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Comparing Pixel Changes and Manual Observations for Mapping Broiler Activity during Dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae (Hermetia illucens) Provisioning

by Noa van Leuffen, Allyson F. Ipema and J. Elizabeth Bolhuis

Animals 2023, 13(13), 2200; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13132200 - 05 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1050

Abstract

Welfare issues in broilers include inactivity and poor leg health. Activity can be stimulated by providing whole dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BFSL), but it is unknown whether this effect changes over time. Therefore, effects of BSFL provisioning on broiler activity per minute [...] Read more.

Welfare issues in broilers include inactivity and poor leg health. Activity can be stimulated by providing whole dried Black Soldier Fly Larvae (BFSL), but it is unknown whether this effect changes over time. Therefore, effects of BSFL provisioning on broiler activity per minute were assessed in detail. Additionally, the use of pixel changes as a proxy for broiler activity was explored. Broilers were housed in groups of 28 (n = 4 pens, <33 kg/m²). Dried BSFL were scattered through the pen of treatment groups at 08:00, 11:00, 14:00, and 17:00. Activity was assessed per minute both manually using scan sampling, and automatically as percent pixel changes for 30 min around BSFL provisioning, and at 14, 21 and 28 days of age. Both methods were moderately positively correlated and showed that BSFL provisioning increased activity. Activity as assessed by manual observations decreased at 17:00, at 21, and 28 days in both groups. The pixel changes indicated that this could be due to low activity levels in the control group. Using pixel changes seems to be a promising, timesaving tool to score broiler activity, but future research is necessary to validate this method and determine how high activity can be maintained over time. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Animals Behaviour and Welfare)

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17 pages, 1314 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Fine-Scaled Selection of Resting and Hunting Habitat by Leopard Cats (Prionailurus bengalensis) in a Rural Human-Dominated Landscape in Taiwan

by Esther van der Meer, Hans Dullemont, Ching-Hao Wang, Jun-Wei Zhang, Jun-Liang Lin, Kurtis Jai-Chyi Pei and Yu-Ching Lai

Animals 2023, 13(2), 234; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13020234 - 08 Jan 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3069

Abstract

Wildlife is increasingly forced to live in close proximity to humans, resulting in human-wildlife conflict and anthropogenic mortality. Carnivores persisting in human-dominated landscapes respond to anthropogenic threats through fine-scaled spatial and temporal behavioral adjustments. Although crucial for conservation, quantitative information on these adjustments [...] Read more.

Wildlife is increasingly forced to live in close proximity to humans, resulting in human-wildlife conflict and anthropogenic mortality. Carnivores persisting in human-dominated landscapes respond to anthropogenic threats through fine-scaled spatial and temporal behavioral adjustments. Although crucial for conservation, quantitative information on these adjustments is scarce. Taiwan’s endangered leopard cat occurs in rural human-dominated landscapes with a high anthropogenic mortality risk. To survive, the nocturnal leopard cat needs suitable habitats for foraging and safe refuge for resting during daytime hours when human activity peaks. In this study, we tracked seven VHF-collared leopard cats. To determine habitat selection patterns, we compared land use at nighttime locations and daytime resting sites with random points and fine-scaled vegetation characteristics at daytime resting sites with random points. Leopard cats selected natural habitats for nighttime hunting and avoided manmade and, to a lesser extent, agricultural habitats or used them according to availability. For daytime resting, leopard cats selected natural habitats and, to a lesser extent semi-natural habitats, such as unused land and abandoned orchards. Resting sites were preferentially situated in natural habitats, with little visibility (<2 m), shrubs, reed and stones, away from areas with high levels of human activity. This suggests leopard cats use a proactive strategy to avoid human encounters, which was supported by the reduced temporal overlap with humans and domestic dogs on agricultural land. Resting sites were placed ca. 1 km apart, 12.9 ± 0.3 m (mean ± SE) from the patch’s edges, in patches with a size of 1.21 ± 0.04 ha (mean ± SE). Our results will assist in identifying and preserving suitable resting habitats to support leopard cat conservation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Animals Behaviour and Welfare)

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Review

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26 pages, 412 KiB

Open AccessReview

Handling and Training of Wild Animals: Evidence and Ethics-Based Approaches and Best Practices in the Modern Zoo

by Sabrina Brando and Max Norman

Animals 2023, 13(14), 2247; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13142247 - 09 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4175

Abstract

There is an ethical responsibility to provide all animals living in human care with optimal and positive well-being. As animals living in zoos and aquariums frequently interact with their human caregivers as part of their daily care routines, it is both relevant and [...] Read more.

There is an ethical responsibility to provide all animals living in human care with optimal and positive well-being. As animals living in zoos and aquariums frequently interact with their human caregivers as part of their daily care routines, it is both relevant and essential to consider the impact of these interactions on animal well-being. Allowing animals to have choice and control in multiple areas of their lives, such as by providing opportunities for them to voluntarily participate in their own care through, for example, positive reinforcement training, is an essential component of good animal well-being programs. This review aims to describe evidence-based approaches, ethics, and best practices in the handling and training of the many taxa held in zoos and aquariums worldwide, drawing from work in related animal care fields such as laboratories, farms, rescue, and sanctuaries. The importance of ongoing animal well-being assessments is discussed, with a particular focus on the need for continued review and refinement of processes and procedures pertaining to animal training and handling specifically. Review, enquiry, assessment, evaluation, and refinement will aim to dynamically support positive well-being for all animals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Women’s Special Issue Series: Animals Behaviour and Welfare)

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