Zoo Animal Welfare

Paul Rose gained his PhD in 2018, investigating the behaviour and welfare of captive flamingos using a variety of methodological approaches including social networks’ analysis. He is a Senior Lecturer in the Psychology Department at the University of Exeter, UK, where he specializes in animal behaviour. Paul also works for the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) where he manages the Animal Welfare & Ethics Committee, the Academic Lead for the Wetland Learning Hub and is a research associate for WWT’s captive animal research programme. Paul is also a lecturer on the MSc Zoo Biology course for University Centre Sparsholt, UK. Paul also delivers an MSc module in biodiversity conservation for Birkbeck College, University of London, UK. As a member of Defra’s Zoos Expert Committee, Paul writes and reviews policy pertaining to the running and licencing of zoos and aquariums. Paul is a member of the IUCN SSC Flamingo Specialist Group and the IUCN SSC Giraffe & Okapi Specialist Group. He is a member of the steering committee for the BIAZA Bird Working Group, and a member of the BIAZA Animal Welfare Working Group. Paul is involved with three European (EAZA) Taxon Advisory Groups (Gruiformes, Charadriiformes, Anseriformes) and with the North American (AZA) Waterfowl TAG in an educational advisor capacity. Paul completed his first piece of in zoo research in 2002 and has been professionally involved in zoo animal behaviour and welfare in an academic and practitioner capacity since 2006. His research predominantly focusses on behaviour and welfare, and evidence for zoo husbandry. He is a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy and a Fellow of the Zoological Society of London. Paul’s first book, "The Behavioural Biology of Zoo Animals" was published in 2022.Zoë Newnham is a senior animal keeper in the Hoofstock Department at Marwell Zoo and a sessional lecturer at University Centre Sparsholt, UK, where she teaches on higher education programmes pertaining to animal management and zoo biology. She is also a partner associate lecturer for the University of Portsmouth, UK. Zoë started her zookeeping career in 2008 at the New Forest Wildlife Park, working with many British and European species and in wildlife rehabilitation for native species. Zoë has a BSc (hons) in Animal Management (2011) and an MSc in Applied Zoo Biology (2023). Zoë’s current zookeeping career focuses on ungulates and she has researched the nutrition of captive browsing species for her postgraduate research. She has published work on training of okapi to assist with health and veterinary-related procedures and has contributed to the textbook "The Behavioural Biology of Zoo Animals" writing about how zookeepers use behavioural evidence in their roles. Zoë is a trustee of the zoo-focused charity "Browse Poster", a professional member of the Association of British & Irish Wild Animal Keepers (ABWAK), a member of the Southampton Natural History Society (SNHS), a member of the Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB) and a member of the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare (UFAW).Ian Hickey is Enclosure Development Manager at Chester Zoo where he looks after the animal enclosure upgrades and enhancements for all species, while representing the Animal & Plant Department throughout the design and construction process for new, large-scale animal exhibits. Ian moved to the UK from Ireland in 2006 to study BSc (Hons) Animal Management at Sparsholt College Hampshire and he subsequently obtained his MSc in Wild Animal Biology from the Royal Veterinary College in 2010. Ian has worked for the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) where he delivered their 2010 Elephant Management Audit and spent five years as a zookeeper at Blair Drummond Safari Park and then Chester Zoo (before moving into his current role). His work now involves ensuring that each new development meets the needs of both animals and keeping staff within the spaces being created. Ian is also a consultant for zoo design consultancy Dearadh Zu, having contributed to developments at zoos and safari parks throughout the UK, and is a qualified Accreditation Screener for BIAZA. Ian has contributed the elephant chapter to the textbook "Behavioural Biology of Zoo Animals" and has presented at various zoo research conferences on his undergraduate and postgraduate work.

"Animal welfare is a priority for all modern zoos and aquariums. However, given the wide range of taxa housed and the influence of varying external factors, assessing and reliably interpreting animal welfare remains a significant challenge. Zoo Animal Welfare offers a comprehensive overview of key topics in zoo welfare, supported by diverse case studies and informative infographics which make it a valuable and engaging resource for students, animal carers, and zoo professionals.The inclusion of chapters focusing specifically on lesser-studied taxa such as reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates, is a particularly important addition. By presenting current evidence and its practical application, the authors highlight the importance of considering the wellbeing of all animals in zoos. In addition, the book addresses emerging trends such as the use of technology in welfare assessment and provides guidance on how to use social media effectively to communicate welfare efforts; topics that are highly relevant in today's increasingly technological world.Overall, this book provides an excellent overview of zoo animal welfare and demonstrates how scientific evidence can be translated into husbandry practices that help animals thrive and experience positive welfare."Dr Holly Farmer, Conservation Evidence Manager, Wild Planet Trust, UK"This is a very welcome book at a time of great change in thinking about what a zoo is and what it should be. It commences with a thoughtful discussion about what various people mean when they talk about welfare and, in relation to the zoo community, how this has limited their actions. These ideas are developed further in a discussion of how there might be action to facilitate zoo animals moving from having to struggle with difficulties in having their needs met to thriving. How the zoo animals perceive environmental quality, nutrition, health and the optimal amount and nature of interaction with humans are all discussed in relation to studies of the welfare of those animals. Zoos can take a lead in society by informing and encouraging the public who visit, physically or online, about how to become less human-centred and to consider the valuable diversity of life. If zoos are seen to focus on the welfare of individuals and hence to respect non-human life, they can promote change in thinking towards a more balanced world where the lives of all animals and all other living species are valued." Donald M. Broom, Emeritus Professor of Animal Welfare, University of Cambridge, UK"The book is perfect for biology students who want to work in animal welfare at zoos. The language is easy to understand, the figures are very illustrative, and the book covers all the important subjects for students. It will be included in my discipline at the university as an essential bibliography!"Cristiano Schetini de Azevedo, Professor of Zoology, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil

• About the Editors Glossary Preface Foreword Chapter 1: Animal welfare in the zoo: The what, why and how 2 The complexity of conceptualising and defining animal welfare 3 Zoo ethics vs. welfare – complementary or conflicting? 4 Confirming the credibility of animal care: Evidence-based husbandry and husbandry-based evidence 5 Control and choice, and positive challenge…a route to ideal zoo welfare? 6 Environmental enrichment and promoting motivated behaviours 7 Enclosure design, space use and animal welfare 8 Welfare is what you eat: Zoo nutrition and positive animal welfare 9 People and animal welfare: Impacts of human presence in the zoo 10 Conservation welfare: Animal well-being, behavioural ecology, and the One Plan Approach to conservation 11 New technology – challenges and opportunities for zoo animal welfare science 12 Animal welfare and zoo conservation outputs 13 Designing and implementing animal welfare management assessment programmes 14 The zookeeper perspective on animal welfare 15 One Health and welfare – veterinary perspectives 16 Enriching the awkward – promoting welfare in challenging species (reptiles and amphibians) 17 Enriching the awkward – promoting welfare in challenging species (aquarium fish) 18 Animal welfare and policy 19 From mantids to mantis shrimp – what about invertebrate welfare? 20 Considering the wild – opportunities and challenges of natural behaviour and zoo welfare 21 Promoting zoo animal welfare to the future professional 22 Welfare in an online world – communicating zoo and animal welfare science through social media 23 Population management, records and animal welfare 24 Animal-centred habitat design as the foundation of zoo animal welfare and the role of welfare prioritisation 25 Zoo welfare strategy – from page to practice 26 Enabling animals to participate in their own care 27 Zoo animal welfare into the 21st century: Conclusions and future considerations for welfare-focused husbandry