Publications

The effect of preference assessment-informed enrichment device colour on biting and foraging behaviour in loggerhead sea turtles (2024)

Although environmental enrichment procedures have demonstrated their benefit to non-human animals in zoos and aquariums, the field has given little attention to phylogenetic variables that might affect their efficacy. Recently, research with loggerhead sea turtles Caretta caretta has demonstrated that...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Reptile, Turtle & Tortoise

Citation: Bulla, A., Mahoney, A., Lee, V. M. et al. 2024. The effect of preference assessment-informed enrichment device colour on biting and foraging behaviour in loggerhead sea turtles. Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research 12(4), 232–242.

Animal welfare, agency, and animal–computer interaction (2025)

Recent discussions in animal welfare have emphasised the importance of animal agency—the ability of animals to make choices and exert control over their environment in a way that aligns with their needs and preferences. In this paper, we discuss the...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Browning, H., Veit, W. 2025. Animal welfare, agency, and animal–computer interaction. Animals 15(2), 219.

Burrowing behavior as robust parameter for early humane endpoint determination in murine models for pancreatic cancer (2025)

Due to late-stage diagnoses and limited treatment options, pancreatic cancer is predicted to be the second leading cause of cancer deaths by 2030. Many different murine models were developed over the past decades to test new therapies for this tumor...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Disease/Experimental Model, Humane EndpointAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Brandstetter, J., Hoffmann, L., Koopmann, I. et al. 2025. Burrowing behavior as robust parameter for early humane endpoint determination in murine models for pancreatic cancer. Animals 15(9), 1241.

A method to improve the housing of breeding rats used to produce pups for tissue (2025)

Rats are considered highly social animals. In the wild, they live in groups and develop complex social structures. Regrouping rats is considered stressful. We therefore wanted to keep animals in monogamous pairs so that they could develop a social bond...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Housing, Reproduction, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rat, Rodent

Citation: Booth, K., King, J., Stephen, J. et al. 2025. A method to improve the housing of breeding rats used to produce pups for tissue. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(1), 62–65.

The effects of handling on mouse behavior: cupped hands versus familiar or novel huts or tunnels (2025)

Mice are commonly tail-handled, despite evidence that this is aversive. Alternatives include cupping and tunnel handling; both methods are associated with improved welfare outcomes, including reduced anxiety and improved ease of handling, but tail handling may be perceived as more...

Year Published: 2025Topics: HandlingAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Bodnar, M. J., Makowska, I. J., Schuppli, C. A. et al. 2025. The effects of handling on mouse behavior: Cupped hands versus familiar or novel huts or tunnels. PLOS ONE 20(5), e0323785.

Understanding and mitigating male mouse aggression

We formed a global working group to identify the triggers of aggression e.g. behaviours seen prior to fighting occurring and have identified strategies to mitigate these triggers. We have also identified the signs of a harmonious cage, how to identify...

Year Published: 2025Animal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Baker, T., Ostman, S., Edwaldsson, B. et al. 2025. Understanding and mitigating male mouse aggression. Animal Technology and Welfare 24(1), 49–52.

Long term ear and saphenous cannulation to perform blood sampling over longer periods using the Seldinger technique (2024)

The standard practice to collect a blood sample from a Minipig is to invert the animal onto its back and into a cradle. The blood sample is then collected via jugular venepuncture. This technique can cause large amounts of stress...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Biological Sampling & Physiological Measurement, Cannulation, Catheterization, & IntubationAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Bailey, G., Simpson, T., Sharpe, J. 2024. Long term ear and saphenous cannulation—To perform blood sampling over longer periods using the Seldinger technique. Animal Technology and Welfare 23(3), 217–218.

Advancing zebrafish husbandry: takeaways from the 2024 husbandry workshop and husbandry summit (2024)

The 2024 Zebrafish Husbandry Workshop and Summit held during the World Aquaculture Society Meeting in San Antonio focused on key areas for improving zebrafish husbandry research. Discussions highlighted the need for comprehensive literature on husbandry, better communication and collaboration between...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Housing, Husbandry & ManagementAnimal Type: Fish, Zebrafish

Citation: Altemara, M., Baur, B., Varga, Z. M. 2024. Advancing Zebrafish Husbandry: Takeaways From the 2024 Husbandry Workshop and Husbandry Summit. Zebrafish 21(6), 418–422.

A systematic review of the effects of musical enrichment on captive mammals (2025)

Forty two studies examining physiological, behavioural and cognitive mammalian responses to music were identified, with 38.1% of those studies focusing on primates. The studies identified included 23 mammalian species across six animal orders (Artiodactyla, Carnivora, Perissodactyla, Primates, Proboscidea and Rodentia)....

Year Published: 2025Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Baboon, Capuchin, Cat, Chimpanzee, Chinchilla, Dog, Gerbil, Gibbon, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Lemur, Macaque, Marmoset, Mole Rat, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate, Other Rodent, Owl Monkey, Rat, Rodent, Squirrel Monkey, Vervet (African Green Monkey)

Citation: Alkalaj, M. 2025. A systematic review of the effects of musical enrichment on captive mammals. Canopy 25(2).

Pup recruitment in a eusocial mammal—Which factors influence early pup survival in naked mole-rats?

In eusocial insects, offspring survival strongly depends on the quality and quantity of non-breeders. In contrast, the influence of social factors on offspring survival is more variable in cooperatively breeding mammals since maternal traits also play an important role. This...

Year Published: 2023Topics: Housing, Husbandry & Management, ReproductionAnimal Type: Mole Rat, Rodent

Citation: Wetzel, M., Courtiol, A., Hofer, H. et al. 2023. Pup recruitment in a eusocial mammal—Which factors influence early pup survival in naked mole-rats? Animals 13(4), 630.