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Tidière M, Colchero F, Staerk J, Adkesson MJ, Andersen DH, Bland L, Böye M, Brando S, Clegg I, Cubaynes S, Cutting A, De Man D, Derocher AE, Dorsey C, Elgar W, Gaglione E, Anderson Hansen K, Jungheim A, Kok J, Laule G, Goya AL, Miller L, Monreal-Pawlowsky T, Mucha K, Owen MA, Petersen SD, Pilfold N, Richardson D, Richardson ES, Sabo D, Sato N, Shellabarger W, Skovlund CR, Tomisawa K, Trautwein SE, Van Bonn W, Van Elk C, Von Fersen L, Wahlberg M, Zhang P, Zhang X, Conde DA. Survival improvements of marine mammals in zoological institutions mirror historical advances in human longevity. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20231895. [PMID: 37848064 PMCID: PMC10581765 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.1895] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023] Open
Abstract
An intense public debate has fuelled governmental bans on marine mammals held in zoological institutions. The debate rests on the assumption that survival in zoological institutions has been and remains lower than in the wild, albeit the scientific evidence in support of this notion is equivocal. Here, we used statistical methods previously applied to assess historical improvements in human lifespan and data on 8864 individuals of four marine mammal species (harbour seal, Phoca vitulina; California sea lion, Zalophus californianus; polar bear, Ursus maritimus; common bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus) held in zoos from 1829 to 2020. We found that life expectancy increased up to 3.40 times, and first-year mortality declined up to 31%, during the last century in zoos. Moreover, the life expectancy of animals in zoos is currently 1.65-3.55 times longer than their wild counterparts. Like humans, these improvements have occurred concurrently with advances in management practices, crucial for population welfare. Science-based decisions will help effective legislative changes and ensure better implementation of animal care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgane Tidière
- Interdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics (CPop), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark
- Conservation and Science Department, Species360, 7900 International Drive, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55425, USA
| | - Fernando Colchero
- Interdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics (CPop), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Mathematics and Computer Science, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Primate Behavior and Evolution, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Pl. 6, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Johanna Staerk
- Interdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics (CPop), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark
- Conservation and Science Department, Species360, 7900 International Drive, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55425, USA
| | | | - Ditte H. Andersen
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Lucie Bland
- Conservation and Science Department, Species360, 7900 International Drive, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55425, USA
- Eureka Publishing, Thornbury, Australia
| | - Martin Böye
- Centre de Recherche et d'Etude pour l'Animal Sauvage, Planète Sauvage, 44710 Port Saint Pere, France
| | - Sabrina Brando
- AnimalConcepts, PO Box 378, 03725 Teulada, Alicante, Spain
| | - Isabella Clegg
- Animal Welfare Expertise, The Knoll, Woodlands, Combe Martin, EX34 0ATLittleton Manor, Winchester SO22 6QU, UK
| | - Sarah Cubaynes
- CEFE, Univ Montpellier, CNRS, EPHE-PSL University, IRD, Montpellier, France
| | - Amy Cutting
- Polar Bear International, PO Box 3008, Bozeman, MT, USA
| | - Danny De Man
- European Association of Zoos and Aquaria (EAZA), Plantage Middelaan 45, 1018-DC Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andrew E. Derocher
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta; Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9
| | - Candice Dorsey
- Association of Zoos and Aquariums, 8403 Colesville Road Ste 710, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | - William Elgar
- Zoo Miami, 12400 SW 152 Street, Miami, FL 33177, USA
| | - Eric Gaglione
- Georgia Aquarium, 225 Baker Street, Atlanta, GA 30313, USA
| | - Kirstin Anderson Hansen
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark
- Marine Biological Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, Hindsholmvej 11, 5300 Kerteminde, Denmark
| | - Allison Jungheim
- Como Park Zoo and Conservatory, 1225 Estabrook Dr., Saint Paul, MN 55103, USA
| | - José Kok
- Ouwehands Zoo, Grebbeweg 111, 3911 AV Rhenen, The Netherlands
| | - Gail Laule
- Mandai Wildlife Group, 80 Mandai Lake Road, Singapore 729826
| | | | - Lance Miller
- Chicago Zoological Society, Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL, USA
| | | | - Katelyn Mucha
- Conservation and Science Department, Species360, 7900 International Drive, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55425, USA
| | - Megan A. Owen
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Rd., Escondido, CA, USA
| | | | - Nicholas Pilfold
- San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, 15600 San Pasqual Valley Rd., Escondido, CA, USA
| | - Douglas Richardson
- Zoological Consultancy Ltd, Columba Cottage, Mill Rd, Kingussie PH21 1LF, UK
- EAZA Polar Bear EEP, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Evan S. Richardson
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Unit 150–234 Donald Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 1M8, Canada
| | - Devon Sabo
- Columbus Zoo and Aquarium, 4850 W. Powell Road, PO Box 400, Powell, OH 43065-0400, USA
| | - Nobutaka Sato
- Asahiyama Zoological Park, Kuranuma, Higasiasahikawacho, Asahikawa city, Japan
| | | | - Cecilie R. Skovlund
- Conservation, Copenhagen Zoo, Roskildevej 38, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Section of Animal Welfare and Disease Control, Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Grønnegårdsvej 8, 1870 Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Kanako Tomisawa
- Omuta City Zoo, 163 Showa-machi, Omuta, Fukuoka 836-0871, Japan
| | - Sandra E. Trautwein
- Conservation and Science Department, Species360, 7900 International Drive, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55425, USA
| | - William Van Bonn
- A. Watson Armour III, Center for Animal Health and Welfare, Animal Care and Science Division, John G. Shedd Aquarium, Chicago, IL 60605, USA
| | - Cornelis Van Elk
- Independent practitioner, Arendsweg 98, Enschede 7544RM, The Netherlands
| | | | - Magnus Wahlberg
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark
- Marine Biological Research Center, University of Southern Denmark, Hindsholmvej 11, 5300 Kerteminde, Denmark
| | - Peijun Zhang
- Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics Laboratory Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya 572000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xianfeng Zhang
- Institute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430072, People's Republic of China
| | - Dalia A. Conde
- Interdisciplinary Centre on Population Dynamics (CPop), University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Biology, University of Southern Denmark, Campusvej 55, 5230 Odense, Denmark
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Brando S, Rachinas-Lopes P, Goulart VDLR, Hart LA. Understanding Job Satisfaction and Occupational Stressors of Distinctive Roles in Zoos and Aquariums. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2018. [PMID: 37370528 DOI: 10.3390/ani13122018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
For professionals caring for humans or non-human animals, many joys are to be found in working towards what an individual believes to be their calling, especially as they contribute to purposeful, meaningful work consistent with and intrinsic to their own values and beliefs. However, there can be downfalls. Empathic strain, conflict between co-workers, dissatisfaction with upper management, lack of opportunities to make positive changes, limited or no access to level and experience-appropriate professional development, and other stressors are all risks carried by organisations concerned with animal welfare. In the present study, a survey on job satisfaction and workplace stressors was completed by 311 zoo and aquarium professionals working in a range of roles from junior animal care staff to curator. Respondent profiles were created using Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA) and four distinct clusters were identified through Hierarchical Clustering on Principal Components (HCPC), highlighting common themes in different levels of experience and in job roles regarding stressors, satisfaction, and feelings about their work and workplaces. Overall, many zoo professionals were concerned with lacking the ability to feel empowered to do their best for animal welfare, and they described a link between the staff welfare and their perceptions of the welfare of the animals they cared for. Through identifying and understanding where organisations can better support their staff it is possible to target and reduce the number of common stressors faced by zoo professionals, leading to increased staff retention, higher job satisfaction, and an improved ability to perform at their best for animal welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Brando
- AnimalConcepts, P.O. Box 378, 03725 Teulada, Spain
- Division of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, UK
| | - Patrícia Rachinas-Lopes
- AnimalConcepts, P.O. Box 378, 03725 Teulada, Spain
- MARE-Marine and Environmental Sciences Centre/ARTNET-Aquatic Research Network, Ispa-Instituto Universitário de Ciências Psicológicas, Sociais e da Vida, Rua Jardim do Tabaco, 34, 1149-041 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Vinícius Donisete Lima Rodrigues Goulart
- Transportation Research and Environmental Modelling Lab-TREM, Institute of Geosciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Lynette A Hart
- Department of Population Health & Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, 3207 VM3B, Davis, CA 95616, USA
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Brando S, Broom DM, Acasuso-Rivero C, Clark F. Optimal marine mammal welfare under human care: Current efforts and future directions. Behav Processes 2017; 156:16-36. [PMID: 28927965 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2017.09.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2016] [Revised: 09/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/15/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Marine mammals include cetaceans, pinnipeds, sirenians, sea otters and polar bears, many of which are charismatic and popular species commonly kept under human care in zoos and aquaria. However, in comparison with their fully terrestrial counterparts their welfare has been less intensively studied, and their partial or full reliance on the aquatic environment leads to unique welfare challenges. In this paper we attempt to collate and review the research undertaken thus far on marine mammal welfare, and identify the most important gaps in knowledge. We use 'best practice case studies' to highlight examples of research promoting optimal welfare, include suggestions for future directions of research efforts, and make recommendations to strive for optimal welfare, where it is currently lacking, above and beyond minimum legislation and guidelines. Our review of the current literature shows that recently there have been positive forward strides in marine mammal welfare assessment, but fundamental research is still required to validate positive and negative indicators of welfare in marine mammals. Across all marine mammals, more research is required on the dimensions and complexity of pools and land areas necessary for optimal welfare, and the impact of staff absence for most of the 24-h day, as standard working hours are usually between 0900 and 1700.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Brando
- WAZA Executive Office IUCN Conservation Centre, Rue Mauverney 28, CH-1196 Gland, Switzerland.
| | - Donald M Broom
- Centre for Animal Welfare and Anthrozoology, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.
| | - Cristina Acasuso-Rivero
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK.
| | - Fay Clark
- Bristol Zoological Society, c/o Bristol Zoo Gardens, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3HA, UK,.
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