What’s the Difference?

Animal Rights

The idea that animals should have the same moral rights as humans, and the same inherent value – for example, the rights not to be used for food, experimentation or entertainment, and the right to be free. it’s a philosophical belief system it’s one of many different belief systems it’s a belief system based on ethical concerns for animals What is it? Animal Rights

Rights for Animals few rightslots of rights There is a continuum of rights for animals, ranging from few or no rights to lots of rights. Our own individual belief systems all fall somewhere along this continuum. What is it? Animal Rights

Some, like the 17 th century philosopher Descartes, may believe that animals are little more than machines—that they have no feelings at all. Such a belief system suggests that animals have few—if any—rights. Rights for Animals few rightslots of rights What is it? Animal Rights

Some animal rights supporters are at the other extreme—believing that all animals should have the same moral rights as humans. This belief system suggests that animals should have the same rights as humans. Rights for Animals few rightslots of rights What is it? Animal Rights

Most zoo & aquarium professionals fall somewhere along the middle of the continuum, believing that animals have the right to humane care. Our individual belief systems—based on our individual experience, education, culture, religion, etc.—give us our varying opinions on the rights of animals. Rights for Animals few rightslots of rights What is it? Animal Rights

So – the idea of Animal Rights … is a philosophical belief system is one of many different belief systems is a belief system based on ethical concerns for animals What is it? Animal Rights

Animal Welfare

What is it? The Animal Welfare Committee defines it as a combination of an animal’s physical health and psychological well-being. Animal Welfare

nutrition exercise social groupings veterinary care environmental conditions What is it? Physical Health involves appropriate … Animal Welfare

addressing animals’ motivational needs providing animals with choice and control matching the environment to animals’ natural adaptations encouraging animals to develop and use their cognitive abilities What is it? Psychological Well-Being involves Animal Welfare

The subject of animal rights is more concerned with philosophy—and less concerned with science. The subject of animal welfare is more concerned with science—and less concerned with philosophy. Our philosophical views are individual and personal, but our collective professional goal is excellent animal welfare. What’s the difference? Animal Rights/ Animal Welfare

We do use animals in zoos and aquariums. The welfare of animals in zoos and aquariums is driven by how and why we use them. Our concerns—and those of our public—about animal rights are affected by the welfare of the animals in our collections. There is, however, considerable overlap … What’s the difference? So the two concepts are linked. Animal Rights/ Animal Welfare

How can we ensure consistently high standards of animal welfare in our collections? The Animal Welfare Committee is a resource for addressing the question. Animal Rights/ Animal Welfare Animal Welfare is everyone’s responsibility. Animal Welfare Committee Promoting Excellence in Animal Care The question for zoo & aquarium professionals is …

1. Animal welfare ranges on a continuum from very poor to very good. There are no clear dividing lines between “good” and “bad”. To enhance animal welfare, we need to recognize five important points: Animal Welfare

2. Animal welfare must be assessed at the individual animal level, not at the group or species level. Animal Welfare To enhance animal welfare, we need to recognize five important points:

3. Good welfare will look different for different individual animals—it’s relative, not absolute. Animal Welfare To enhance animal welfare, we need to recognize five important points:

4. There is no single measure of welfare— we need to look at multiple variables to assess welfare. Animal Welfare To enhance animal welfare, we need to recognize five important points:

5. Welfare is a quality of the animal—it is not something that we provide to animals (what we provide are appropriate conditions—the potential—for animals to experience good welfare). Animal Welfare To enhance animal welfare, we need to recognize five important points:

1.Animal welfare ranges on a continuum from very poor to very good. There are no clear dividing lines between “good” and “bad”. So how can we maximize our animals’ welfare potential? 2.Animal welfare must be assessed at the individual animal level, not at the group or species level. 3.Good welfare will look different for different individual animals—it’s relative, not absolute. 4.There is no single measure of welfare—we need to look at multiple variables to assess welfare. 5.Welfare is a quality of the animal—it is not something that we provide to animals (what we provide are appropriate conditions—the potential—for animals to experience good welfare). Animal Welfare

The Animal Welfare Committee defines 6 programs that contribute to maximizing an animal’s potential to experience high levels of welfare: nutrition research training health enrichment habitat Maximizing welfare potential Animal Welfare

Maximizing welfare potential Enrichment: Animal Welfare

An enrichment program involves setting goals, planning, implementing, documenting, evaluating, and refining enrichment plans Enrichment: using knowledge of an animal’s natural and individual history to provide species-appropriate control/choices Maximizing welfare potential Animal Welfare

Enrichment: using knowledge of an animal’s natural and individual history to provide species-appropriate control/choices Maximizing welfare potential Habitat: Animal Welfare

the complexity of an animal’s physical and social environment Habitat: Maximizing welfare potential Is it possible to develop a programmatic approach to optimizing habitats/housing? What would such a program look like? Animal Welfare

Enrichment: using knowledge of an animal’s natural and individual history to provide species-appropriate control/choices Habitat: the complexity of an animal’s physical and social environment Maximizing welfare potential Nutrition: Animal Welfare

Nutrition: the science of ensuring that an animal is provided with a complete and balanced diet Maximizing welfare potential What makes an effective nutrition program? Where should we look to find out? Animal Welfare

Enrichment: using knowledge of an animal’s natural and individual history to provide species-appropriate control/choices Habitat: the complexity of an animal’s physical and social environment Nutrition: the science of ensuring that an animal is provided with a complete and balanced diet Maximizing welfare potential Research: Animal Welfare

Research: using the scientific method to address basic and applied questions about an animal’s behavior, physiology, genetics, etc. Maximizing welfare potential What makes up an effective research program, especially in terms of animal welfare? Animal Welfare

Enrichment: using knowledge of an animal’s natural and individual history to provide species-appropriate control/choices Habitat: the complexity of an animal’s physical and social environment Nutrition: the science of ensuring that an animal is provided with a complete and balanced diet Research: using the scientific method to address basic and applied questions about an animal’s behavior, physiology, genetics, etc. Maximizing welfare potential Health: Animal Welfare

Health: the prevention and treatment of illness and injury Maximizing welfare potential What are the components of an effective veterinary program? If we don’t know, who would? Animal Welfare

Enrichment: using knowledge of an animal’s natural and individual history to provide species-appropriate control/choices Habitat: the complexity of an animal’s physical and social environment Nutrition: the science of ensuring that an animal is provided with a complete and balanced diet Research: using the scientific method to address basic and applied questions about an animal’s behavior, physiology, genetics, etc. Health: the prevention and treatment of illness and injury Maximizing welfare potential Training: Animal Welfare

Training: using a variety of techniques including habituation and classical and operant conditioning to teach an animal to cooperate with and participate in its own management. Maximizing welfare potential As with enrichment, an effective training program involves setting goals, planning, implementing, documenting, evaluating, and refining plans and goals Animal Welfare

Enrichment: using knowledge of an animal’s natural and individual history to provide species-appropriate control/choices Habitat: the complexity of an animal’s physical and social environment Nutrition: the science of ensuring that an animal is provided with a complete and balanced diet Research: using the scientific method to address basic and applied questions about an animal’s behavior, physiology, genetics, etc. Health: the prevention and treatment of illness and injury Training: using a variety of techniques including habituation and classical and operant conditioning to teach an animal to cooperate with and participate in its own management. Maximizing welfare potential Animal Welfare So we have 6 programs that contribute to the welfare potential of our animals:

The integration and coordination of these 6 programs, and the feedback among them, make up the overall program of animal husbandry – using knowledge of an animal’s natural and individual history to provide high-quality care (feeding, housing, social management, etc.). Maximizing welfare potential Animal Welfare

Maximizing welfare potential If the 6 programs of animal husbandry are in place and are effective, then we can presume that we have enhanced the welfare potential of our animals. enrichment + habitat + nutrition + research + health + training = maximized potential for animal welfare Animal Welfare husbandry program =

understand how to develop effective animal care programs. identify measures of program effectiveness and tools for program integration. Your comments and participation are welcomed! Maximizing welfare potential The Animal Welfare Committee is working to provide you with resources to: Animal Welfare Animal Welfare Committee Promoting Excellence in Animal Care