Special Issue "The Human Element: The Impact of Management on Domesticated, Captive and Wild Populations"
Special Issue Editor
Interests: wildlife ecology; animal behavior; welfare; enrichment; wildlife management; zoo research; human/animal interactions
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
A recent study (Bar-On et al., 2018[1]) reported that 60% of all mammals and 70% of birds are farmed. A staggering mere 4% of mammals and 30% of birds on Earth are classified as wild. Furthermore, as much of our wild areas are no longer viable habitats for animals to survive; many wild species occur in greater numbers in captivity than they do in the wild. For instance, there are 39 animal species currently listed by the IUCN as extinct in the wild. Therefore, our relationship with animals and our impact on their survival and welfare have never been more deeply felt.
Species differ significantly in their ability to be successfully managed and even more in their ability to adapt to life in captivity. While some species may adapt well, others may show reduced life expectancy, low breeding success, and display abnormal and stereotypical behaviors. In some cases, this has been found to be related to the temperament of the animal which has in turn had a result on the success of aspects such as enrichment to improve welfare. Even in semi-wild populations, management may impact upon breeding and gene flow, mortality through disease control and hunting, access to resources, and habitat use due to fencing. As fragmentation and human encroachment on our landscape continues, it is increasingly important to be able to evaluate the influence of management on individual and species levels and investigate ways to mitigate negative aspects.
We invite original papers on any aspect of assessing the impact of management on domesticated, captive, and wild animals. Topics of particular interest include investigating ways to improve the welfare of managed populations, novel ways to enhance “natural” behavior, individual variation between and within species, and the impact of training on human caregivers/managers.
[1] Bar-On, Y.M., Phillips, R. and Milo, R., 2018. The biomass distribution on Earth. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 115(25), pp. 6506-6511.
Dr. Amy Haigh
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- management
- domestication
- captive
- behavior
- welfare assessment
- enrichment
- personality
- human impact
- productivity
- physiology