Experts Explore the Future of Global Captive Wildlife Welfare
The University of Nottingham recently hosted “Welfare in Captive Wildlife: A Global Perspective”, an event that brought together over 35 wildlife professionals, students and lecturers, in a day-long workshop focused on enhancing the welfare of animals under human care. Hosted by The Elephant Welfare Project, and supported by UFAW (Universities Federation for Animal Welfare), the workshop collaborated with a host of international contributors such as global animal welfare charity, Wild Welfare, and Singapore’s Mandai Wildlife Group.
The workshop, organised by the University of Nottingham School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, aimed to address key captive wild animal issues. The event would engage the professional community in discussions about welfare enhancements through collaboration and continued learning. Leading figures provided insightful views on many facets of captive welfare, including sharing initiatives that are driving advancements in delivering positive welfare outcomes and examining less successful legislative processes that could be improved to help protect animals more effectively.
The interactive workshop session was packed with informative presentations and a lively round table discussion, which enabled delegates to pose their questions to academics and leading professionals from across the animal welfare landscape. One such figure was Associate Professor, founder of the Elephant Welfare Project and Director at the new UK non-profit, Elephant Welfare International, Dr. Lisa Yon. She led the discussion by presenting “Defining and assessing welfare in wildlife: the importance of validation,” which emphasised the scientific basis of successful welfare monitoring. Lisa introduced the free Elephant Welfare App (EWA) that her team at the University of Nottingham had developed to enable global zoo facilities to monitor Elephant well-being by registering their behaviours. The app provides animal facilities with a useful visual reporting tool while collecting rich data to support Nottingham University’s large data bank of science-led welfare advice. “It is helping to play a crucial role in monitoring and supporting the well-being of endangered species in captivity, while addressing conservation, care and welfare needs,” Lisa explained.
Dr. Yon acts as a specialist consultant to Wild Welfare, which works to raise standards of welfare for wild animals in captivity across the globe. Wild Welfare representatives were instrumental in delivering the workshop talks including Director, Simon Marsh, who presented about Animal Welfare Standards and Zoo and Aquarium Accreditation. Simon drew from his extensive experience of working in collaboration with zoos, aquariums and other animal facilities around the world. “Through our collaborations with national and regional zoological associations, we know that if animal welfare standards are developed and applied effectively, it improves the lives of animals substantially at each facility working towards accreditation or certification. Highlighting this critical area of work gave the participants an understanding of what it entails to create a systematic process and the positive impact it can have for animal welfare on a globe scale” Simon explained. Simon was accompanied by co-founder of Wild Welfare, Geogina Groves who gave an overview of the current situation of welfare challenges around the globe and key areas in which we can start to address poor care and welfare.
The outstanding speakers panel also featured Gail Laule of Mandai Wildlife Group in Singapore, a world-renowned specialist, who spoke on the use of positive reinforcement in training to facilitate positive welfare outcomes for animals under human care. Delegate MSc BSc (Hons) Penelope Wellman, a Myerscough College lecturer, explained how she was impressed by the “thoughtful CPD (Continuing Professional Development) day” stating how “insightful the in-depth discussion of important issues like defining and quantifying animal welfare, the role of enrichment, legislations and policies, and practical methods of welfare monitoring was”. Wellman praised the event, citing her “intention to integrate these lessons into her own teaching, to better equip future animal studies graduates for animal career opportunities in zoos, conservation, and welfare”. This collaborative initiative underscores the growing recognition of the importance of continuous professional development and knowledge sharing in the ever advancing world of captive wildlife welfare. “By bringing together academics, animal caregivers, and students, we wanted to expose participants to the often overlooked realities of this sector, and to inspire progressive discussion to bring about positive changes in captive welfare globally,” Simon explained. The success of this workshop is a reflection of how collaboration helps advance animal welfare through learning and awareness, setting a precedence for change that will stem generations.
Wild Welfare offers a wealth of online resources, supporting animal caregivers around the globe with free access to high quality CPD learning materials. Their popular multilingual e-learning programme, for example, explores modules covering animal behaviour, enrichment provision, health care and much more. The programme has already been accessed by 30,000 users, in 6 languages, across 70 different countries. Start your own animal care and welfare personal development journey today by visiting WildWelfare.org.
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Notes to Editors
For more information or interview requests please contact Wild Welfare on communications@wildwelfare.org
Wild Welfare is a global organisation committed to improving animal welfare for captive wild animals. By uniting the world’s leading zoos, zoo associations and animal welfare organisations, we build trusting partnerships that help provide long-term solutions to critical wild animal welfare issues.
Our vision is to end the suffering of captive wild animals around the world and ensure full and sustainable protection is given to all animals in human care. Find out more at wildwelfare.org. Registered charity in England (no.1165941).
