Publications

Quantification of sea turtle swimming patterns using a standardized arena to minimize effort in welfare assessment

Welfare assessment of captive sea turtles has become increasingly important as the need for lifelong care grows. The most valuable indicator of sea turtle welfare is behavioral assessment, as it is non-invasive and more cost-effective than other methods such as...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Reptile, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: Inoue, N. K. 2025. Quantification of sea turtle swimming patterns using a standardized arena to minimize effort in welfare assessment. Behavioural Processes 231, 105200.

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.

Blue light preconditioning as a novel strategy for reducing transport stress in zebrafish

In recent years, zebrafish have become increasingly important in experimental sciences, with transportation being a critical step in their use. However, the vibrations during transportation often induce stress responses in the fish, impairing their physiological functions and even leading to...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Huo, L., Miao, X., Zhang, X. et al. 2025. Blue light preconditioning as a novel strategy for reducing transport stress in zebrafish. Behavioural Processes 231, 105260.

The challenge of identifying positive emotional indicators in equids: A scoping review to evaluate if this approach is putting the cart before the horse (Equus caballus)

Driven by multiple converging factors, highlighting the negative impact of equestrian sports on equine welfare, recent scientific research has focussed on recognising positive states in horses (Equus caballus). In particular, this has yielded an increasing number of studies prioritising the...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Humphreys, S., Freire, R., Waran, N. et al. 2025. The challenge of identifying positive emotional indicators in equids: A scoping review to evaluate if this approach is putting the cart before the horse (Equus caballus). Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106760.

Innovative cage-based technique for mouse urine collection

Accurate and humane collection of mouse urine samples is crucial for research studies and health monitoring of laboratory mouse colonies. Conventional methods may stress animals and compromise sample quality. To address these challenges, we developed a natural and animal-friendly approach...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological MeasurementAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Huang, J., Wang, Y., Gao, Y. et al. 2025. Innovative cage-based technique for mouse urine collection. Laboratory Animals 59(4), 464–470.

Putting the evidence into evidence-based husbandry: A scoping review of empirical approaches to improving captive reptile welfare

Non-avian reptiles are commonly kept in captivity, including zoos, aquariums, farms, laboratories, classrooms, rehabilitation centres, and homes. With this wide range of captive conditions and potential diversity of species housed, it is crucial to ensure that these animals are housed...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental Enrichment, Housing, Human-Animal Interaction, Husbandry & Management, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Crocodile & Alligator, Lizard, Reptile, Snake, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: Hanson, S. L., Whittaker, A. L., Cooper-Rogers, B. et al. 2025. Putting the evidence into evidence-based husbandry: A scoping review of empirical approaches to improving captive reptile welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106831.

Importance of the social environment for reproductive and general welfare of domestic horse (Equus caballus) stallions

The obligation to ensure the welfare of domestic horses is evident. Social bonds are an essential part of the daily life of feral horses. In human-controlled conditions, stallions usually live alone in a barren environment of individual boxes or paddocks...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Górecka-Bruzda, A., Aurich, C. 2025. Importance of the social environment for reproductive and general welfare of domestic horse (Equus caballus) stallions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 292, 106827.

Premises for digital twins reporting on Atlantic salmon wellbeing

Many species of fish, birds and mammals commonly live in human captivity; Atlantic salmon Salmo salar is one of them. The international legal status of the welfare of captive animals is slowly developing and still requires rigorous specification. For example,...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Welfare AssessmentAnimal Type: Fish, Salmon

Citation: Giske, J., Dumitru, M. L., Enberg, K. et al. 2025. Premises for digital twins reporting on Atlantic salmon wellbeing. Behavioural Processes 226, 105163.

Lizard anesthesia—A retrospective study of anesthetic protocol and monitoring quality of anesthetic episodes at a veterinary hospital over 23 years (2000–2023)

Objective This study’s aim was to summarize the anesthetic events of lizards seen at a university hospital, identify challenges with record-keeping, and assess anesthesia-related mortality. Methods From October 2000 through January 2023, medical records of lizards that underwent general anesthesia...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Anesthesia & SedationAnimal Type: Lizard, Reptile

Citation: Gise, B. T., Thorbrogger, C. J., Rasys, A. M. et al. 2025. Lizard anesthesia—A retrospective study of anesthetic protocol and monitoring quality of anesthetic episodes at a veterinary hospital over 23 years (2000–2023). Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 263(7), 904–913.

Impacts of chopped food on primate behavior are not clear cut. A case study on zoo-housed ring-tailed lemurs

Measuring how food presentation influences behavior helps encourage practices that support natural foraging efforts for species housed in zoos. To test the effect of food presentation on a commonly housed zoo primate, observations of the behavior of ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Lemur, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: George, A. J., Tull, S., Rose, P. 2025. Impacts of chopped food on primate behavior are not clear cut. A case study on zoo-housed ring-tailed lemurs. Zoo Biology 44(5), 442–452.