Animal Welfare Assessments Workshop

This workshop takes place from 24-27 October and is kindly hosted by Fundación Bioparc at Bioparc Valencia.

This workshop will introduce participants to the fundamentals of animal welfare science and how these are manifested into an animal welfare assessment. Participants will practice data collection techniques including behavioural observations and measuring environmental parameters. Participants will also learn how to analyse and interpret their data, problem solve and prioritise actions. Participants will also discuss the development of animal welfare committees and/or working groups within their own institutions and the operational considerations for assessments, depending on their purpose.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the workshop participants will be able to:

1. Understand what Animal Welfare Assessments are, how they are constructed and how they can be used to improve animal welfare.
2. Apply an Animal Welfare Assessment effectively, including practical objective data collection.
3. Analyse the data within an Animal Welfare Assessment.
4. Evaluate the results of an Animal Welfare Assessment to determine validity and limitations of our understanding of the animal's welfare status.
5. Contribute to informed discussions of embedding Animal Welfare Assessments within an institutions procedures.

EAZA Academy tutors for the course:

Lisa Clifforde, Animal Welfare Officer, Zoological Society of London, Chair of the BIAZA Animal Welfare Working Group, Member of the EAZA Animal Welfare Working Group

Marina Salas, Research Coordinator, Antwerp Zoo Centre for Research and Conservation, Member of the EAZA Animal Welfare Working Group

Sarah Richdon, Conservation and HE Manager, Programme Lead for Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Institute of Conservation Science & Learning, Bristol Zoological Society, Member of the BIAZA Animal Welfare Working Group

Emily Hanley, Zookeeper, Zoological Society of London's London Zoo

This course will be taught in English, with some limited support in Spanish if needed.