Animal Welfare Exercise
To understand what constitutes good welfare in captive animals, we must find a way to successfully assess and measurewelfare. This is not always an easy task due to different species and their varying needs, as well as the consideration of theirindividual needs. However, in more recent years, science-based assessment of animal welfare in captive animals has
beneﬁted from increased interest in and research into consciousness, emotions, stress and pain.
In the past, the Five Freedoms of Animal Welfare have successfully acted as a foundation, defining and underpinning
fundamental animal welfare standards and considerations. Yet whilst past focuses have been on negative experiences andminimising distress, recent concepts have led to the consideration of positive factors and the development of various
positive welfare measures. This encourages the management of animals to promote positive experiences and mental states.
The model of the Five Domains of Potential Welfare Compromise has evolved since its original development and illustrates
how compromises in an animal’s nutrition, environment, health and behaviour can all impact upon its mental state.
These five domains may overlap and have combined effects on the overall welfare status of an individual animal and thus
The ‘Five Domains’ concept can serve to offer a useful framework for the broad assessment of animal welfare.

Environment

Nutrition

The four functional (physical) domains feed into
the fifth domain (mental) domain. This affective
state represents the animal’s overall subjective
feelings and experiences and hence this fifthdomain is a key element of animal welfare.

healthMentalstate
Behaviour
Behaviour

HealthAnimal welfare

In the Five Domains model, the four physical orfunctional domains (nutrition, environment,health and behaviour) are concerned withbiological function, or physical wellbeing, andthe fifth domain, the mental state, considers
the ‘affective state’ or psychological wellbeing.

An animal may have positive or negative
emotional states and it is the balance between
these subjective experiences that can influence
an individual animal’s ‘Quality of Life’.

How to complete the exercise.
This is a worked example below. Please observe the animals for 10-15 mins per species. If there is no noticeable behaviour i.e.
laying down the agile category will score 1, if they are moving around they will score 3, 4, or 5

Species:

Environment

Diet

Behaviour

Health / Body condition

Score

Score
Observation
notes. (Code)Start time:

11.am

5 4 5 4 5 4 4 5

14 52 3

1 5 5 5 4 4 4 4 3 5 54

1 5 5 55

ComfortContentCalm

SteadyPainlessness

Alert
No stereotypicalbehaviour
Normal breathing

EngagedCommunicative

PurposefulSociable

PlayfulBrightRelaxedActiveStrongFitness

Healthy

Healthy coat

N o: 2Toned - body

LeanAgile

Well fed

Hydration

SuitabilityEnriching

PermanentChallenging(Please circle)

Separation

Group orIndividual

Safe

Capercaillie
Utilised

Welfare assessment instructions

See Welfare assessment; Definitions in order to grade the different categories
Grade the Categories: by a score rating (1-5): Full compliance = 5, least compliance / no behaviour recorded = 1

If observing a group please givean overall score with notes
indicating individuals of concern.

4 4 5 4 4 4 136

5 6 7

Finish time:

11.30am

Notes:

Capercaillie
1) Large loops in netting a head height2) Could add more natural foraging material
3) Could add more natural foraging material andreduce pellet
4) Unable to see body due to feathers5) Possible anxiety due to people, generally calm6) Possible discharge from eye7) Interacted well with female

Notes
This area is for you to add
notes, particularly for lowscored sections. Please record
the species and use anumerical key to relate to theworksheet.
You can also include diagrams
if required or take pictures /film to act as an aid.

Total welfare
score:

134

Total welfare score

Weather and Temp: Cold, wet overcast 15oC

Date: 12/10/2016

Percentage:(Total score / 160 x 100 = %):136 / 160 x 100 = 85%

Scoring
Add all the scores together and convert to a %.
If observing a group please give an overall scorewith notes indicating individuals of concern.

Group or individual
Circle if the animal is kept in a group or as anindividual. If they are kept as a group please record
the group size.

“In your informed opinion, do these animals appear to have a good quality of life in captivity.
Is the enclosure and social grouping appropriate?”
This simple system should allow a moderately rapid assessment of selected species. Students will have to conduct background research of the study
animals with regards to their environment, wild diet, body condition, normal appearance, behaviour and their specific needs.
Category

Welfare assessment; Definitions

Environment

Description
Utilised
Safe
Separation
Challenging
Permanent

RelaxedBrightPlayful
Sociable
PurposefulCommunicative
EngagedAlert
Natural behaviour
Normal breathing
Painlessness
SteadyCalm
Content
ComfortDefinition for full compliance (Score 5 for full compliance and 1 for least compliance. Score accordingly to what you see)All areas and features of the environment are accessible and are used
Environment is free of hazards
Animal can choose to distance themselves from the public or other animals
Environment demands suitable movement and intellectual and decision making adaptations
Environment offers full opportunities throughout the year
Environment provides opportunities for free choices, meets the species specific needs and allows full behavioural andphysical expression
Zoo diet:
Access to clean waterGood body condition, not to fat or thin.
Physically fit and appropriately active
Within normal weight range – free from excessive body fat
Developed and visible muscles
Displays full colour and density
Appearance is healthy
No appearance of injury
No appearance of frailty
Exhibits significant activity and engages with items within the enclosure. Spends considerable part of their time on
physical activities in the enclosure.
Shows calmness whilst awake
Behaviour is positive
Shows object and/or member of the same species directed play
Do they act appropriately to members of the same species
Intended actions and outcomes are achieved
Relates to members of the same species through vocal and non-vocal signals
Responds attentively to visual and physical stimuli
Exhibits awareness of local and distant environment
No unusual behaviours (stereotypical behaviours)
Breathing is normal and not laboured or frantic
Discomfort in movement or expression
Steady when moving, no erratic movement (dizzy)No appearance of anxiety
Relaxed and content within
No appearance of helplessness / distress

Total score

All the scores added together. Score range 32 – 160. 32 – poor, and 160 is exceptional.
Score 32 = 20% - Poor welfare / more study required, Score 80 = 50% Average, some improvement required, Score 129 = 80% - Very good welfare

Enriching
Diet

Body condition

SuitabilityHydration
Well fed
Agile
Lean
Toned – body
Healthy coat
HealthyFitness
StrongActive

Behaviour

Welfare score

Weather and Temp:

If observing a group please give an overall scorewith notes indicating individuals of concern.

Welfare assessment: 1 observation

ComfortContentCalm

SteadyScore

Painlessness

Alert
No stereotypicalbehaviour
Normal breathing

Communicative

Sociable

PlayfulBright

RelaxedActiveStrongFitness

Healthy

Healthy coat

Lean

Agile

EngagedBehaviour

Health / Body condition

Well fed

SuitabilityEnriching

PermanentDiet

Toned - body

N o:

Challenging

SafeSeparation(Please circle)

UtilisedGroup orindividualEnvironment

Hydration

Species:

Total welfare score

Score rating (1-5): Full compliance = 5, least compliance / no behaviour recorded = 1

Purposeful

Date:

Score
Observation
notes. (Code)Start time:
Finish time:

Observational notes:

Total welfare
score:
Percentage:(score / 160 x 100 = %):Please rate the enclosure in its current state. (Please circle)
Do you feel the enclosure meets the animals physical and mental needs?
PoorTotal welfare
score:
Excellent

Percentage:(score / 160 x 100 = %):Welfare assessment: 1 observation

SUMMARY (Highlights of main issues identified in audit):

ACTIONS and RECOMMENDATIONS (Highlights the main solutions to the issues identified in audit):

Score range 32 – 160.
32 – poor, and 160 is exceptional.
• Score 32 = 20% - Poor welfare /more study required.
• Score 80 = 50% - Average, some
improvement required.
• Score 129 = 80% - Very goodwelfare.

This exercise should give a reasonable assessment of the welfare of animals in zoos. If a problem is identified by the students
then a more extensive study over a longer period may be required. Students can also do comparisons with the same/similar
species within the collection or other collections.

Weather and Temp:

If observing a group please give an overall scorewith notes indicating individuals of concern.

ComfortContentCalm

SteadyScore

Painlessness

Naturalbehaviour
Normalbreathing

Alert

PurposefulSociable

PlayfulBrightRelaxedActiveStrongFitness

Healthy

Healthy coat

Toned - bodyLeanAgile

EngagedBehaviour

Health / Body condition

Well fed

HydrationSuitability

DietEnriching

PermanentChallenging

Separation

Safe

Utilised

Welfare assessment of 2 animals

Environment

Total welfare
score

Score rating (1-5): Full compliance = 5, least compliance / no behaviour recorded = 1

Communicative

Date:

Animal 1:
Score
Observation
notes. (Code)Start time:
Finish time:Group orindividual

N o:(Please circle)

Animal 2:
Score
Observation
notes. (Code)Start time:
Finish time:Group orindividual

N o:(Please circle)

Score range 32 – 160.
32 – Poor welfare, and 160 - Exceptional welfare.
• Score 32 = 20% - Poor welfare / more study required.
• Score 80 = 50% - Average, some improvement required.
• Score 129 = 80% - Very good welfare.

Animal 1:
Total welfare
score:

Percentage:(Total score / 160 x 100 = %):Animal 2:
Total welfare
score:

Percentage:(Total score / 160 x 100 = %):Notes

Welfare assessment of 2 animals

This area is for you to add notes about the enclosure, individuals / group and behaviour etc. Please record the species and use anumerical key to relate to the worksheet. You can also include diagrams if required or take pictures to act as an aid.

SUMMARY (Highlights of main issues identified in audit):

Welfare assessment of 2 animals

Animal 1

Animal 2

ACTIONS and RECOMMENDATIONS (Highlights the main solutions to the issues identified in audit):
Animal 1

Animal 2

Do you feel the enclosure meets the animals physical and mental needs?

Do you feel the enclosure meets the animals physical and mental needs?

Please rate the enclosure in its current state. (Please circle).
PoorExcellent

Please rate the enclosure in its current state. (Please circle)
Poor
Excellent