Tiered Mentoring Wildlife Watch: Investigating Animal Behavior and Wellbeing Stephanie Chandler, Akron Zoo

Overview: The Akron Zoo completes high level assessments of animal wellbeing and welfare annually using the Five Opportunities to Thrive (Vicino & Miller, 2015). This includes observing and recording specific animals’ use of their environment and their expression of species-specific behaviors. We currently use a zoo and aquarium-specific data collection app to record behavioral observation and space use data that allows data to be exported into excel for analysis. This information will then be included in conversations related to overall animal wellbeing and welfare, and future action items for change as indicated.

What would you learn? A student working on this project will learn about the science of animal welfare and how it informs zoo staff on the health and wellbeing of the animals they care for. Specifically, students will learn how to identify and define specific behaviors in specific species of animals, how similar behaviors can differ between species, and how zoo staff incorporate behavioral observations and space use data into animal management. Students can develop their own research proposal about one or more animals they will be collecting data on, and can analyze the data for their own project.

Commitment: 10-15 hour/week expectation of a student. Data collection can occur seven days per week during normal operations of the zoo (11am-4pm from the day after Labor day to April 30) (10am-5pm May 1 thru Labor Day). Data exportation and analysis can occur 8am-5pm seven days per week. A student at the zoo will be taught to do the listed criteria above as well as any other necessary guidance.

References

Vicino, G., & Miller, L. J. (2015, September). From prevention of cruelty to optimizing welfare: Opportunities to thrive. In Proceedings of the International Ethological Conference, Cairns, Australia (Vol. 19).