A Review of Welfare Assessment Methods in Reptiles, and Preliminary Application of the Welfare Quality® Protocol to the Pygmy Blue-Tongue Skink, Tiliqua adelaidensis, Using Animal-Based Measures
Reptiles are held at wildlife parks and zoos for display and conservation breeding programs and are increasingly being kept as pets. Reliable indicators of welfare for reptiles need to be identified. Current guidelines for the captive management of reptiles utilize resource-based, rather than animal...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2019-01-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/1/27 |
| _version_ | 1818452230172311552 |
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| author | Amelia L. Benn David J. McLelland Alexandra L. Whittaker |
| author_facet | Amelia L. Benn David J. McLelland Alexandra L. Whittaker |
| author_sort | Amelia L. Benn |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Reptiles are held at wildlife parks and zoos for display and conservation breeding programs and are increasingly being kept as pets. Reliable indicators of welfare for reptiles need to be identified. Current guidelines for the captive management of reptiles utilize resource-based, rather than animal-based indicators; the latter being a more direct reflection of affective state. In this paper we review the literature on welfare assessment methods in reptiles with a focus on animal-based measures. We conclude that, whilst a number of physiological and behavioral indicators of welfare have been applied in reptiles, there is need for further validation of these methods across the diversity of species within the Class. Methods of positive welfare state assessment are comparatively understudied and need elucidation. Finally, we examine some widely-used welfare assessment tools in mammals and explore the application of the Welfare Quality® Protocol to the endangered pygmy blue-tongue skink, Tiliqua adelaidensis. We propose that this framework can form the basis for the development of taxon-specific tools with consideration of species-specific biology. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T21:19:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8bce8118e6be45f8929ed305eb7e11a4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T21:19:47Z |
| publishDate | 2019-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-8bce8118e6be45f8929ed305eb7e11a42022-12-21T22:46:59ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152019-01-01912710.3390/ani9010027ani9010027A Review of Welfare Assessment Methods in Reptiles, and Preliminary Application of the Welfare Quality® Protocol to the Pygmy Blue-Tongue Skink, Tiliqua adelaidensis, Using Animal-Based MeasuresAmelia L. Benn0David J. McLelland1Alexandra L. Whittaker2School of Animal & Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, AustraliaSchool of Animal & Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, AustraliaSchool of Animal & Veterinary Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5005, AustraliaReptiles are held at wildlife parks and zoos for display and conservation breeding programs and are increasingly being kept as pets. Reliable indicators of welfare for reptiles need to be identified. Current guidelines for the captive management of reptiles utilize resource-based, rather than animal-based indicators; the latter being a more direct reflection of affective state. In this paper we review the literature on welfare assessment methods in reptiles with a focus on animal-based measures. We conclude that, whilst a number of physiological and behavioral indicators of welfare have been applied in reptiles, there is need for further validation of these methods across the diversity of species within the Class. Methods of positive welfare state assessment are comparatively understudied and need elucidation. Finally, we examine some widely-used welfare assessment tools in mammals and explore the application of the Welfare Quality® Protocol to the endangered pygmy blue-tongue skink, Tiliqua adelaidensis. We propose that this framework can form the basis for the development of taxon-specific tools with consideration of species-specific biology.http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/1/27reptileswelfareplaypygmy skinkassessment tool |
| spellingShingle | Amelia L. Benn David J. McLelland Alexandra L. Whittaker A Review of Welfare Assessment Methods in Reptiles, and Preliminary Application of the Welfare Quality® Protocol to the Pygmy Blue-Tongue Skink, Tiliqua adelaidensis, Using Animal-Based Measures Animals reptiles welfare play pygmy skink assessment tool |
| title | A Review of Welfare Assessment Methods in Reptiles, and Preliminary Application of the Welfare Quality® Protocol to the Pygmy Blue-Tongue Skink, Tiliqua adelaidensis, Using Animal-Based Measures |
| title_full | A Review of Welfare Assessment Methods in Reptiles, and Preliminary Application of the Welfare Quality® Protocol to the Pygmy Blue-Tongue Skink, Tiliqua adelaidensis, Using Animal-Based Measures |
| title_fullStr | A Review of Welfare Assessment Methods in Reptiles, and Preliminary Application of the Welfare Quality® Protocol to the Pygmy Blue-Tongue Skink, Tiliqua adelaidensis, Using Animal-Based Measures |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Review of Welfare Assessment Methods in Reptiles, and Preliminary Application of the Welfare Quality® Protocol to the Pygmy Blue-Tongue Skink, Tiliqua adelaidensis, Using Animal-Based Measures |
| title_short | A Review of Welfare Assessment Methods in Reptiles, and Preliminary Application of the Welfare Quality® Protocol to the Pygmy Blue-Tongue Skink, Tiliqua adelaidensis, Using Animal-Based Measures |
| title_sort | review of welfare assessment methods in reptiles and preliminary application of the welfare quality r protocol to the pygmy blue tongue skink tiliqua adelaidensis using animal based measures |
| topic | reptiles welfare play pygmy skink assessment tool |
| url | http://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/9/1/27 |
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