Animal Welfare [GPT]

Animal welfare?

The concept of animal welfare has evolved significantly over the past decades, and many studies are being conducted around the world to better understand how to assess the state of animal welfare, both in general and for animals under the care of zoological institutions.

Animals do not communicate with us directly, even though they often display signs that we must interpret. It can therefore be difficult to determine whether they are “happy” in our organizations. Animal ethology, the science of behavior, has greatly contributed to expanding our knowledge. Veterinary medicine has also progressed tremendously, improving the care and nutrition of wild animals. With this knowledge, numerous animal management guidelines have been developed to help zoo professionals manage the animals in their care as effectively as possible. But is that enough to conclude that animal welfare is ensured?

Zoos accredited by various associations (CAZA in Canada, AZA in the United States, EAZA in Europe, etc.) establish standards and requirements to ensure quality for animals, the public, and employees. Being accredited is therefore one way to contribute to animal welfare. Zoos follow recommendations regarding animal care, health, housing, safety, transport, environmental enrichment, biomedical training, and more.

But can we do better? Some believe so, by focusing more on the animal’s psychology rather than solely on its physical health. For many years—and still today—one of the main ways to support animal welfare has been to prioritize animal health. This is because it is easier to measure and control, whereas psychological factors in animals are more difficult to assess.

By striving to replicate natural environments and the conditions in which animals evolved, their well-being can be improved. The goal is to find the best balance between providing animals with conditions that are as “wild” as possible while ensuring their health and safety.

This scientifically supported approach is promising and innovative for many. However, the Zoo sauvage has been following this path for decades through the Parc des sentiers de la nature, with its vast spaces, diverse habitats that challenge animals, and more. Intuitively, Zoo sauvage professionals have always managed species according to their natural needs. Today, this vision appears to be widely supported. Can the Zoo sauvage do better? Certainly.

Does it have an advantage over the majority of zoos? Very likely. And it will continue to work in that direction.

Additional Information

We are far removed from the menageries of the 19th century, fortunately. Mindsets are changing, knowledge is growing, and transformations are taking place. This is illustrated, for example, by the change to the Civil Code of Quebec in December 2015, when animals were no longer considered “movable property” but rather “sentient beings” with “biological needs.”

For those who wish to explore the topic further, we recommend the following scientific article:
Veasey JS. In pursuit of peak animal welfare; the need to prioritize the meaningful over the measurable. Zoo Biology. 2017; 1–13.

Christine Gagnon, biologist
Director of Conservation and Education