Adaptation of the animal welfare assessment grid (AWAG) for monitoring animal welfare in zoological collections
Abstract
Animal welfare monitoring is an essential part of zoo management and a legal requirement in many countries. Historically, a variety of welfare audits have been proposed to assist zoo managers. Unfortunately, there are a number of issues with these assessments, including lack of species information, validated tests and the overall complexity of these audits which make them difficult to implement in practice. The animal welfare assessment grid (AWAG) has previously been proposed as an animal welfare monitoring tool for animals used in research programmes. This computer-based system was successfully adapted for use in a zoo setting with two taxonomic groups: primates and birds. This tool is simple to use and provides continuous monitoring based on cumulative lifetime assessment. It is suggested as an alternative, practical method for welfare monitoring in zoos.
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AWAG was developed for assessing the welfare of primates in research institutions but has since been adapted for birds, western lowland gorillas, giraffes, scimitar-horned oryx, and large felids.
“AWAG was developed for assessing the welfare of primates in research institutions (69, 90) but has since been adapted for birds (91), western lowland gorillas (92), giraffes (Giraffa camelopardalis), scimitar-horned oryx (Oryx dammah), and large felids (tigers, leopards, and cheetahs) (26).”
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- Authors
- Justice, W. S. M., O'Brien, M. F., Szyszka, O., Shotton, J., Gilmour, J. E. M., Riordan, P., & Wolfensohn, S.
- Affiliations
- Marwell Zoo (GB)
- Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust Slimbridge Gloucestershire GL2 7BT UK
- Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust (GB)
- University of Surrey (GB)
- Venue
- Veterinary Record
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2017-08
- Volume
- 181
- Issue
- 6
- Pages
- 143-143
- ISSN
- 0042-4900 (ISSN-L)
- 2042-7670
- OpenAlex
- W2613124578
- Cited by
- 51
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 9 · 2021: 4 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 3
- FWCI
- 4.76
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Veterinary Record (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Open Research (University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
- Surrey Research Insight Open Access (The University of Surrey) (submittedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Veterinary Pharmacology and Anesthesia
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal testing and alternatives
- Keywords
- animal welfare monitoring, zoos, zoo animals, primates, birds, zoo management
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Animal Welfare, Animals, Zoo, United Kingdom, Population Surveillance
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