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Muzzo A, Pollastri I, Biasetti P, Vogt G, Manenti R, de Mori B. Ethical reasoning and participatory approach towards achieving regulatory processes for animal-visitor interactions (AVIs) in South Africa. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0282507. [PMID: 36877684 PMCID: PMC9987795 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/07/2023] Open
Abstract
South Africa's wide range of animal facilities offers many different types of Animal-Visitor Interactions, wild animal encounters where animals and visitors come closer than in normal circumstances. The aim of this study was to provide a map of the ethically relevant aspects involved in AVIs in South Africa as a first step towards regulating these activities. A participative approach based on the ethical matrix, a tool which organizes the ethical standings of the stakeholders by three bearing ethical principles (wellbeing, autonomy, fairness), was applied. The matrix was populated through a top-down approach and refined by engaging stakeholders in a workshop and two online self-administrated surveys. The outcome is a map of the value demands concerning Animal Visitor Interactions. This map shows how the ethical acceptability of AVIs is linked to different relevant issues like animal welfare, education, biodiversity conservation, sustainability, human competency, facility mission, impact on scientific research and socio-economic outcomes. In addition, results highlighted the importance of cooperation among stakeholders and suggested that attention for animal welfare can inform decision making and inspire a multidisciplinary approach in implementing a regulatory frame for South African wildlife facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Muzzo
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
| | - Ilaria Pollastri
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
- * E-mail: (IP); (RM); (BM)
| | - Pierfrancesco Biasetti
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
- Department of Reproduction Management, Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gregory Vogt
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
- Conservation Guardians, Shongweni Nature Reserve, Kwa Zulu Natal, Outer West Durban, South Africa
| | - Raoul Manenti
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Milano, Italy
- * E-mail: (IP); (RM); (BM)
| | - Barbara de Mori
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy
- * E-mail: (IP); (RM); (BM)
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Pollastri I, Normando S, Contiero B, Vogt G, Gelli D, Sergi V, Stagni E, Hensman S, Mercugliano E, de Mori B. Emotional States of African Elephants ( Loxodonta africana) Kept for Animal-Visitor Interactions, as Perceived by People Differing in Age and Knowledge of the Species. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11030826. [PMID: 33804098 PMCID: PMC7998931 DOI: 10.3390/ani11030826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate how three groups of people of differing ages, and with differing knowledge of the species, perceived the emotional state of African elephants (Loxodonta africana) managed in captive and semi-captive environments. Fifteen video-clips of 18 elephants, observed during three different daily routines (release from and return to the night boma; interactions with visitors), were used for a free choice profiling assessment (FCP) and then analyzed with quantitative methods. A general Procrustes analysis identified two main descriptive dimensions of elephant behavioral expression explaining 27% and 19% of the variability in the children group, 19% and 23.7% in adults, and 21.8% and 17% in the expert group. All the descriptors the observers came up with showed a low level of correlation on the identified dimensions. All three observers' groups showed a degree of separation between captive and semi-captive management. Spearman analyses showed that stereotypic "trunk swirling" behavior correlated negatively with first dimension (free/friendly versus sad/bored) in the children's group; second dimension (agitated/confident versus angry/bored) amongst the adults; and first dimension (active/excited versus agitated/bored) amongst the experts. More studies are needed to investigate other potential differences in assessing elephants' emotional states by visitors of different ages and backgrounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilaria Pollastri
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, viale dell’Università 16, Agripolis, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, viale dell’Università 16, Agripolis, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (G.V.); (E.M.)
- Correspondence: (I.P.); (S.N.); (B.d.M.); Tel.: +39-049-641-231 (S.N.); +39-049-827-2517 (B.d.M.)
| | - Simona Normando
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, viale dell’Università 16, Agripolis, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, viale dell’Università 16, Agripolis, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (G.V.); (E.M.)
- Correspondence: (I.P.); (S.N.); (B.d.M.); Tel.: +39-049-641-231 (S.N.); +39-049-827-2517 (B.d.M.)
| | - Barbara Contiero
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, viale dell’Università 16, Agripolis, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (B.C.); (D.G.)
| | - Gregory Vogt
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, viale dell’Università 16, Agripolis, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (G.V.); (E.M.)
- Conservation Guardians, Shongweni Nature Reserve, Outer West, Kwa Zulu Natal 3610, South Africa
| | - Donatella Gelli
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padua, viale dell’Università 16, Agripolis, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (B.C.); (D.G.)
| | - Veronica Sergi
- School of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Padua, viale dell’Università 16, Agripolis, 35020 Legnaro, Italy;
| | - Elena Stagni
- Independent Researcher, Via Ranzani 17, 40127 Bologna, Italy;
| | - Sean Hensman
- Adventures with Elephants, Bela Bela, Limpopo 0480, South Africa;
| | - Elena Mercugliano
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, viale dell’Università 16, Agripolis, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (G.V.); (E.M.)
| | - Barbara de Mori
- Department of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, viale dell’Università 16, Agripolis, 35020 Legnaro, Italy
- Ethics Laboratory for Veterinary Medicine, Conservation, and Animal Welfare, University of Padua, viale dell’Università 16, Agripolis, 35020 Legnaro, Italy; (G.V.); (E.M.)
- Correspondence: (I.P.); (S.N.); (B.d.M.); Tel.: +39-049-641-231 (S.N.); +39-049-827-2517 (B.d.M.)
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The identification of effective welfare indicators for laboratory-housed macaques using a Delphi consultation process. Sci Rep 2020; 10:20402. [PMID: 33230175 PMCID: PMC7683591 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-77437-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the importance for both animal welfare and scientific integrity of effective welfare assessment in non-human primates, there has been little or no consensus as what should be assessed. A Delphi consultation process was undertaken to identify the animal- and environment-based measures of welfare for laboratory-housed macaques and to determine their relative importance in on-site welfare assessments. One-hundred fifteen potential indictors were identified through a comprehensive literature search, followed by a two-round iterative electronic survey process to collect expert opinion. Stable group response and consensus about the validity, reliability, and feasibility of the proposed indicators (67.5% agreement) was achieved by the completion of Round Two. A substantially higher proportion of environment-based measures (72%: n = 44/61) were considered as valid, reliable, and feasible compared to the animal-based measures (22%: n = 12/54). The indicators that ranked most highly for assessing welfare were the presence of self-harm behaviours and the provision of social enrichment. This study provides an empirical basis upon which these indicators can be validated and then integrated into assessment tools developed for macaques and emphasises the need to include both animal- and environment-based indicators for accurate welfare monitoring.
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