How neglected is wild animal welfare in research?
November 22, 2023
Michaël Beaulieu, a Physiology Researcher at Wild Animal Initiative, has conducted an analysis of the neglectedness of wild animal welfare in recent biology literature. Through his review, he found that the neglectedness of wild animal welfare is indeed a “stubborn fact” and not just a questionable claim.
The limited availability of welfare science studies focusing on wild animals suggests that there may be resistance or barriers to extending the scope of welfare science beyond the traditional context of farmed, companion, and captive-housed animals. But there is increasing evidence that extending the field of animal welfare to wild conditions is feasible, particularly through collaborations among scientists from a range of disciplines. In addition to advancing general understanding and increasing available knowledge, wild animal welfare studies may also lead to concrete applications — for instance, by informing stakeholders, refining practices, or modifying legislation impacting wildlife. But the full potential of the field of wild animal welfare will be reached only if scientists branch out beyond traditional norms and consider the full range of approaches and taxa that this field has to offer.
