Recently, the open access scientific journal Animals published a special issue entitled: Zoo and Aquarium Welfare, Ethics, Behavior. Many of the peer-reviewed papers within this special issue focus on and in some instances call for improvements to animal welfare assessment, husbandry, training, housing, and overall management. The goal of the invited editors, which includes the host of Zoo Logic, was to highlight advances and current best practices across a range of species, and to inspire further progress, while also addressing public perceptions and expectations of zoos and aquariums. One such paper, "A Reexamination of the Relationship between Training Practices and Welfare in the Management of Ambassador Animals," by lead author, and long time trainer and founder of Natural Encounters, Steve Martin and veterinarian and researcher, Dave Miller (and yours truly) examines the history and current state of ambassador animal welfare and the need for choosing the right species and individual animals for such programs (and avoiding the wrong ones). The authors make no secret that animal ambassador welfare has generally not kept pace with other advancements in zoo animal well being. It is vital that zoological facilities devote the necessary resources in terms of time, money, animal selection, and staff training to properly handle and ensure the best welfare outcomes for these animals with a unique role.
Animal Care Software
Endangered Red Wolves
Veterinarians International
Sustainable Water for Gorillas and People
Florida Coral Rescue Center
AMZAP: Increasing Minority Representation in Zoos
How DO You Teach a Penguin to Swim?
How to Succeed a Legend
Zoo Fit
ZDR3: Zoo Disaster Response, Rescue, and Recovery
Bats Man!
On Thin Ice
ZAA and the Big Cat Safety Bill
Houston, We Have a Solution
Zoo Logic and Friends
Loro Parque: No Retreat, No Surrender
Kong Zoo Enrichment Fundraiser Program
Walrus!
The Most Famous Guy in America Nobody Knows
Liberty Wildlife
Finding the Good in a Year of Bad
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Sasquatch Chronicles
The Confessionals
Radiolab
Sasquatch Odyssey
Bigfoot and Beyond with Cliff and Bobo