Marine Mammal

Behavioural and faecal cortisol metabolite monitoring of harbour (Phoca vitulina) and grey seal pups (Halichoerus grypus) in rehabilitation centres

Harbour (Phoca vitulina) and grey (Halichoerus grypus) seals face numerous anthropogenic and environmental threats around the UK and Ireland. These commonly lead to seal pups becoming stranded and in need of rescue and rehabilitation. Although rehabilitation supports the recovery and...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Drug/Substance Administration, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Zatrak, M., Shaw, K. J., Geary, M. et al. 2026. Behavioural and faecal cortisol metabolite monitoring of harbour (Phoca vitulina) and grey seal pups (Halichoerus grypus) in rehabilitation centres. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 297, 106910.

Autonomy in action: Empowering animal-led choices

The concept of choice is increasingly recognized as a critical component of animal welfare, particularly within zoological settings. Despite its significance, the academic literature on empirically examined methods to allow zoo animals to actively communicate choice is limited. This paper...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Animal Training, Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Rust, K., Phillips, W. F., Fernandez, E. J. 2026. Autonomy in action: Empowering animal-led choices. Zoo Biology 45(1), 84–90.

Standardised scoring system to assess the welfare of Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis)

The current study represents the second phase of developing the Yangtze Finless Porpoise Welfare Assessment Protocol (YFP-WAP), guided by the Five Domains model (FDM). Based on previously validated indicators, it aimed to create a scoring system to quantify welfare states....

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Platto, S., Serres, A., Normando, S. et al. 2025. Standardised scoring system to assess the welfare of Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis). Animal Welfare 34, e68.

From ethogram to flow: Behavioral time budgets and transition networks in female harbor seals under human care

We quantified how exhibit design and routine management shape behavior and space use in captive harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). Using a species-specific ethogram, scan sampling and focal follows on adult females housed in a modern zoo exhibit, we estimated time...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Housing, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Briguori, M., Carlino, P., Carpino, C. et al. 2025. From ethogram to flow: Behavioral time budgets and transition networks in female harbor seals under human care. Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 6(4).

Efficacy of an interactive apparatus as environmental enrichment for common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

Environmental enrichment is a key component in improving the psychological and physiological well-being of animals under professional care. Environmental enrichment involves the addition of stimuli, including objects and cognitive challenges, into the environment in order to increase species-specific behaviour and...

Year Published: 2020Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Lauderdale, L. K., Miller, L. J. 2020. Efficacy of an interactive apparatus as environmental enrichment for common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). Animal Welfare 29(4), 379-386.

Review of depressive-like behaviours in some group-living mammals

Thanks to animal models of depression, we are getting closer to understand the nature of this disorder in humans – but depressive disorders may not be specific only to humans. Although due to the inability to collect a verbal report...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Emotion, Pain, & SentienceAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Chimpanzee, Equine, Gibbon, Lemur, Macaque, Marine Mammal, Marmoset, Nonhuman Primate, Other Animal, Other Nonhuman Primate, Owl Monkey, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Ilmer, I., Smoleń, T. 2025. Review of depressive-like behaviours in some group-living mammals. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106753.

A multimodal approach to treatment and management of rumination syndrome in a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus)

The management of chronic rumination syndrome in professionally cared-for animals requires a comprehensive and individualized approach. In this case study, a multimodal approach incorporating pharmacological treatment, feeding modifications, and behavioral management was applied to a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus)...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Ramos, A. M., McClain, A., Dunham, J. M. et al. 2025. A multimodal approach to treatment and management of rumination syndrome in a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). Animals 15(20), 3039.

Findings and refinements from a decade of applying the Cetacean Welfare Assessment (“C-Well”) to multiple species on public display

Zoo animal welfare assessments can be applied to multi-species risk evaluations to species-specific, animal-based protocols. The latter are more difficult to develop and implement due to time-intensive data collection and difficulties with standardisation. The Cetacean Welfare Assessment (C-Well) was published...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Clegg, I., Schultz, R. 2025. Findings and refinements from a decade of applying the Cetacean Welfare Assessment (“C-Well”) to multiple species on public display. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 13(3), 173–185.

Tracking epidermal cortisol and oxytocin in managed bottlenose dolphins as potential non-invasive physiological welfare indicators

Growing concern over cetacean welfare has highlighted the need for rigorous, science-based assessment methods. Within this context, epidermal cortisol (ECC) and oxytocin (EOC) concentrations have emerged as potentially valuable physiological indicators. In this study, we first validated the analytical measurement...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Agustí, C., Talló-Parra, O., Tejero-Caballo, E. et al. 2025. Tracking epidermal cortisol and oxytocin in managed bottlenose dolphins as potential non-invasive physiological welfare indicators. Animals 15(17), 2628.

Validation of indicators for the welfare assessment of captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) (2025)

The Five Domains model (FDM) is a widely accepted framework for developing welfare assessment tools across various contexts, including wild animals under human care. However, only two protocols have been developed for captive cetaceans. This study aimed to create a...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Marine Mammal

Citation: Platto, S., Serres, A., Normando, S. C. et al. 2025. Validation of indicators for the welfare assessment of captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis). Animal Welfare 34, e31.