Relocation & Transport

Decision trees for determining the fate of laboratory animals

Facilities involved in laboratory animal research often face ethical challenges such as: what should I do with the animals that are no longer suitable for experimental purposes? One of the common answers to this question is to kill them. And...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Euthanasia, Relocation & Transport, ReproductionAnimal Type: All/General

Citation: Reshetnykov, M., Stumm, K., Zwick, M. et al. 2025. Decision trees for determining the fate of laboratory animals. Laboratory Animals 59(2), 157–168.

Cortisol and catecholamine concentrations are affected by repeated relocations of adult female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

In captive primate facilities, relocations—moves, within the facility, from one cage to another—can be common events. On the one hand, relocations are generally regarded as relatively benign events, as past studies have generally shown only transient elevations in cortisol concentrations...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Macaque, Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Capitanio, J. P., Tancredi, D. J., Zarrabi, J. et al. 2025. Cortisol and catecholamine concentrations are affected by repeated relocations of adult female rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). American Journal of Primatology 87(6), e70050.

Stress induced by fishing in common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and relative impact on its use as an experimental model (2025)

The common octopus (Octopus vulgaris), among coleoid cephalopods, has evolved the most complex nervous system and sophisticated behaviors. Historically, O. vulgaris was a key animal model for neurophysiology research, and today, it is studied for its genomic innovations. However, unlike...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Cephalopod, Invertebrate

Citation: Maselli, V., Norcia, M., Pinto, B. et al. 2025. Stress induced by fishing in common octopus (Octopus vulgaris) and relative impact on its use as an experimental model. Animals 15(4), 503.

A new therapy to alleviate the inflammatory injury of piglet intestine caused by short-distance transportation—music (2025)

The purpose of this study was to explore whether music can reduce stress in animals by regulating the activity of the hypothalamus pituitary adrenal cortex (HPA) axis and reducing the concentration of cortisol. The control group was not played with...

Year Published: 2025Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Fu, Q., Bai, B., Zhou, S. et al. 2025. A new therapy to alleviate the inflammatory injury of piglet intestine caused by short-distance transportation—Music. PLOS ONE 20(2), e0313354.

Investigating the effect a single dose of cannabidiol has on measures of stress in cats when being transported in a carrier and meeting a novel person in an unfamiliar environment

Domestic cats (Felis Catus) are often exposed to stimuli that have the potential to negatively impact their welfare. These can include situations such as veterinary visits, travel, changes to their home environment, and interactions with unfamiliar people or pets. Cannabidiol...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Cat

Citation: Weller, J. E., Flint, H. E., Hunt, A. B. G. et al. 2024. Investigating the effect a single dose of cannabidiol has on measures of stress in cats when being transported in a carrier and meeting a novel person in an unfamiliar environment. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 11.

Living the good life? A systematic review of behavioural signs of affective state in the domestic horse (Equus caballus) and factors relating to quality of life

Quality of life is dependent upon the extent to which behavioural needs are met, and the balance between pleasant and unpleasant lifetime experiences. In Part II of this systematic review, articles (n = 109) relating to horse-human interactions were reviewed...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Emotion, Pain, & Sentience, Handling, Human-Animal Interaction, Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Equine

Citation: Hall, C., Kay, R. 2024. Living the good life? A systematic review of behavioural signs of affective state in the domestic horse (Equus caballus) and factors relating to quality of life. Part 2: Horse-human interactions. Animal Welfare 33, e41.

Determination of an acclimation period for swine in biomedical research

Swine are widely used models in biomedical research due to their physiologic and anatomic similarities to humans. During transport from vendors to research facilities, pigs are subject to a number of stressors, including environmental, social, and stress as a result...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Pig

Citation: Maxwell, A. R., Castell, N. J., Brockhurst, J. K. et al. 2024. Determination of an acclimation period for swine in biomedical research. JAALAS 63(6), 651–654.

Effect of ground transportation on adrenocortical activity in prepuberal female mice from five different genetic backgrounds

Specific experimental protocols necessitate transportation, a potentially stressful event that could confound results. We determined adrenocortical activity by measuring fecal corticosterone metabolites (FCMs), as a stress marker, in prepuberal (three-week old) female C57BL/6J, C57BL/6NCrl, FVB/NCrl, Crl:CD1(ICR), and BALB/cAnCrl mice. On...

Year Published: 2019Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Mouse, Rodent

Citation: Rumpel, S., Scholl, C., Göbel, A. et al. 2019. Effect of ground transportation on adrenocortical activity in prepuberal female mice from five different genetic backgrounds. Animals 9(5), 239.

Effect of rehabilitation exercise on locomotion performance of captive Bengal slow loris

The Bengal slow loris (Nycticebus bengalensis) is one of the most confiscated and rescued primate species in China. These animals are often subject to physical issues due to poor husbandry practices in captivity. Many individuals rescued from the illegal wildlife...

Year Published: 2024Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Nonhuman Primate, Other Nonhuman Primate

Citation: Bolin, X., Linhong, L., Dongchen, H. et al. 2024. Effect of rehabilitation exercise on locomotion performance of captive Bengal slow loris. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 276, 106304.

Guidance on the transport of laboratory animals

Report of the Transport Working Group established by the Laboratory Animal Science Association (LASA)

Year Published: 2005Topics: Relocation & TransportAnimal Type: Amphibian, Cat, Dog, Ferret, Frog & Toad, Guinea Pig, Hamster, Macaque, Marmoset, Mouse, Nonhuman Primate, Pig, Rabbit, Rat, Rodent, Salamander

Citation: Swallow, J., Anderson, D., Buckwell, A. C. et al. 2005. Guidance on the transport of laboratory animals. Laboratory Animals 39(1), 1-39.