Cetacean Welfare Research
One of my most beloved facilities, Loro Parque has been participating in cutting-edge scientific research.
Animal carers and related scientists across 7 different countries performed the research on cetaceans in human care. They studied how environment, physical habitat, animal training and environmental enrichment affect the welfare of whales and dolphins within zoos and aquariums around the world.
How was this research conducted?
46 cetacean habitats at 43 different accredited facilities in seven countries, including Loro Parque in Tenerife that participated in this research. They conducted the study with a wide variety of different species.
The study explored cetacean welfare through various brilliant tools: including training programs, habitat characteristics, environmental factors, and unique-to-each-individual data such as age and sex.
“An important outcome of the work was a whole new set of research tools, including the creation of an iOS app, ZooPhysioTrak—a comprehensive database of health and welfare biomarkers from all of the participating institutions that provide veterinarians and cetacean care managers with standard health reference intervals and welfare indicators to compare their animals’ test results (from blood and faecal samples). This resource places important health and welfare information directly into the hands of cetacean caregivers and managers like never before.” - Loro Parque blog.
Results
The findings suggest the social management and environmental enrichment programs of bottlenose dolphins are closely related to behaviours that suggest positive welfare than habitat characteristics. Suggesting that the welfare of these animals has less to do with the animals’ habitat size and more to do with how the animals are cared for and how much enrichment is provided as well as social management. Professionals are still finding ways to improve the enrichment programs these animals receive.
The director of the Loro Parque Foundation and president of the Iberian Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AIZA) said:
“The results of this study show that, in the case of zoos accredited by international zoological associations, accusations that dolphins suffer in captivity have no scientific basis. Animal welfare is not an opinion and should not be used speculatively, it is essential to measure it in each case in order to make the best decisions for the welfare of the animals.”
The discoveries found in the research will be used to further improve the (already best) cetacean care and welfare.
Dr Martín Zordan, chief executive officer for the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums also had a say in the study:
“This study shows that progressive zoos and aquariums are able to provide exemplary care for cetaceans and are committed to continuously improving using the latest science, as well as being a step forward for the welfare and ultimately conservation of a number of cetacean species. This work is especially significant when we consider that ex situ conservation has been recognized as an important tool for conserving several cetaceans species as stated in the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) 2020 report Ex-situ options for cetacean conservation.”
Sources:
https://blog.loroparque.com/loro-parque-participates-in-largest-ever-cetacean-welfare-study/?lang=en
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