Bio-logging and animal welfare: practical refinements

Although bio-logging can benefit both science and animal welfare, its applica- tion involves procedures that can cause animals pain, suffering and distress. It is essential— for both animal welfare and good science—to identify all sources of potential suffering asso- ciated with bio-logging and then to minimise suffering and improve welfare. This paper sum- marises key welfare concerns regarding wild animal studies, taken from a new report on refinements in bio-logging that covers both field and laboratory projects. Many welfare concerns apply to both laboratory and field studies, but wild animals can experience additional psychological stress due to capture and handling by humans. The phys- iological impact of devices can also be more significant for wild animals, and opportunities to monitor instrumented wild animals following their release are greatly reduced. The report includes recommendations that aim to reduce the impact of bio-logging on wild animals. It addresses refinements in the following areas: surgery, including pain relief; device attachment; releasing animals following surgery or attachment; device impact, including mass, shape and location; and information sharing to promote good practices in experimen- tal protocols. All of these will help to prevent avoidable animal suffering in future projects.

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