Other Animal

A longitudinal exploration of protected contact and positive reinforcement training in elephants

Training is an essential part of meeting the needs of elephants in human care. In particular, training in a protected contact environment inherently offers more control over the environment and the choice to perform requested behaviors, likely improving welfare. Here...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Wilson, M. L., Kelling, A. S., Perdue, B. M. 2026. A longitudinal exploration of protected contact and positive reinforcement training in elephants. Zoo Biology 45(2), 203–207.

Positive reinforcement training improves behaviour and welfare of captive Indian leopards (panthera pardus fusca)

Rescued animals, including leopards, often experience stress from routine husbandry practices such as feeding, movement, and regrouping. Positive Reinforcement Training (PRT) has emerged as a valuable tool for reducing stress and enhancing the welfare of captive animals. This study investigated...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Animal TrainingAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Mane, A. M., Deshmukh, A., Gupta, B. K. 2025. Positive reinforcement training improves behaviour and welfare of captive indian leopards (panthera pardus fusca). Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 28(4), 715–729.

Enhancing behavioral diversity and activity budgets in zoo-housed African lions (Panthera leo leo) through a modified feeding method

Research on positive animal welfare has prompted exploration and implementation of methods to stimulate the behavioral repertoires of zoo-housed species. We investigated the impact of a modified feeding method on the behavioral diversity, activity budgets, and social relations of five...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Jonkers, J., Elderman, M., Salas, M. 2026. Enhancing behavioral diversity and activity budgets in zoo-housed African lions (Panthera leo leo) through a modified feeding method. Zoo Biology 45(2), 138–153.

The good, the bad, the comfortable: A review of welfare practices and indicators based on the five domains model in farmed deer

Increasing consumer interest in game meat has globally expanded wild animal farming, with deer being a prominent non-traditional species farmed in numerous countries. Consequently, methods for assessing the welfare of captive animals have been developed over the last few decades,...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Esattore, B., Bartošová, H., Bartošová, J. 2025. The good, the bad, the comfortable: A review of welfare practices and indicators based on the five domains model in farmed deer. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 28(4), 618–632.

A review of approaches for addressing oral stereotypic behavior in zoo-housed giraffes

Addressing the presence of stereotypies – repetitive, functionless behaviors – has been at the forefront of contemporary welfare research in zoos. Stereotypies present themselves in many different forms, dependent on the biology of a species, internal and external motivational factors,...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Abnormal/Problematic BehaviorAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Bollnow, M. M., Podraza, M. E., Miller, L. J. 2025. A review of approaches for addressing oral stereotypic behavior in zoo-housed giraffes. Zoo Biology 44(6), 535–543.

Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) husbandry and their welfare

A key diagnostic tool in breeding practice is systematic observation: by identifying abnormalities in natural behaviour, it can highlight early signs of reduced welfare or physical and mental health issues in livestock and other animals. The aim of this paper...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Animal Training, Environmental Enrichment, Human-Animal Interaction, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Pilarczyk, R., Bąkowska, M., Pilarczyk, B. et al. 2025. Alpaca (Vicugna pacos) husbandry and their welfare. Animals 15(21).

Effects of natural and artificial shade on behavior, physiology, and productivity in water buffalo: A narrative review

Although water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) are a species known for their adaptability to different environments, their anatomical characteristics make them susceptible to heat stress in hot-humid climate conditions. In productive systems, the provision of natural or artificial shade is an...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Mota-Rojas, D., Lanzoni, L., Fernandes Bettencourt, A. et al. 2026. Effects of natural and artificial shade on behavior, physiology, and productivity in water buffalo: A narrative review. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 13.

Efficacy and adverse effects of three delivery methods for aerosolized salbutamol in anesthetized European moose (Alces alces alces): A case series

Wild and captive European moose (Alces alces alces) are routinely anesthetized with drug combinations including alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonists, dissociative anesthetics, and opioids. Reportedly, severe respiratory depression, ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) mismatch, and hypoxemia are common complications in this species, requiring perianesthetic oxygen...

Year Published: 2026Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Morelli, J., Hoby, S., Heiderich, E. et al. 2026. Efficacy and adverse effects of three delivery methods for aerosolized salbutamol in anesthetized European moose (Alces alces alces): A case series. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 68(1), 11.

Factors affecting the effectiveness of captive-bolt stunning of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) at commercial slaughter in Sweden

Slaughterhouses for all animals, including reindeer, must achieve the goal of high animal welfare. They must carry out regular checks on stunning effectiveness and key parameters to ensure that animals do not display any signs of consciousness, and display the...

Year Published: 2026Topics: EuthanasiaAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Kautto, A. H., Steen, M., Vågsholm, I. et al. 2026. Factors affecting the effectiveness of captive-bolt stunning of reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus L.) at commercial slaughter in Sweden. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica 68(1), 12.

Body measurements and body condition scoring in Bactrian camels

Body measurements are used regularly to describe phenotypes or the weight of animals. However, little data describe the age effect on the different measurements. In the present paper, 477 Bactrian camels (7–180 months old) were measured (length of the head,...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Other Animal

Citation: Faye, B., Akhmetsadykova, S., Akhmetzhanova, M. et al. 2025. Body measurements and body condition scoring in Bactrian camels. Animals 15(21).