Animal Welfare Monitor: Raising the Bar for Species-Specific Welfare Evaluation Using Welfare Quality^® Principles

Area of Science:

• Zoological research
• Animal welfare science
• Conservation biology

Background:

• Developing precise, species-specific zoo animal welfare assessments is challenging due to taxonomic diversity and limited validated indicators.
• Existing generic evaluations lack the specificity needed for nuanced welfare assessment.
• The Welfare Quality® framework provides a foundation for improving animal welfare standards.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Animal Welfare Monitor (AWM) protocol, a novel hierarchical system for zoo animal welfare assessment.
• To enable the development of species-specific welfare protocols, even for data-deficient taxa.
• To provide a standardized, scalable, and operationally applicable tool for zoological institutions.

Main Methods:

• The AWM protocol utilizes a four-level hierarchical structure (base, order, family, species) to link taxonomic knowledge with species-level assessments.
• Tailored questionnaires cover housing, nutrition, health, and behavior, supplemented by direct behavioral observations.
• Data entry is integrated with visual documentation (e.g., photographs) for enhanced record-keeping and decision-making.

Main Results:

• The AWM protocol currently supports assessments for 87 species, including mammals, birds, amphibians, and reptiles.
• Feasibility demonstrated through over 1000 assessments and 15,000 behavioral observations across 14 zoos between 2021 and 2025.
• The protocol facilitates the creation of a substantial database of species-specific welfare assessment protocols within a unified framework.

Conclusions:

• The AWM protocol offers a scientifically rigorous yet operationally applicable solution for zoo animal welfare assessment.
• Its flexible, hierarchical design allows for adaptation across diverse species and zoological settings.
• AWM supports positive welfare outcomes and enhances long-term welfare monitoring in zoos.