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Animal welfare and decision making in wildlife research

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 16:55 authored by Clive McMahonClive McMahon, Harcourt, R, Bateson, P, Mark HindellMark Hindell
Wildlife scientists are increasingly encountering difficulties conducting research on wild animals due to opposition from animal welfare proponents. Given the current biodiversity crisis, research into animal biology and ecology is urgently needed. Collecting such information may involve invasive research on individual animals, which to some parties is unacceptable, even if ultimately it leads to better conservation outcomes for populations. We argue that these conflicting philosophies on how to treat animals represent a tension between two attitudes to animals. Nevertheless, an acceptable space for essential research can be found. By judicious application of the principles outlined in Bateson's Decision Cube, conservation scientists can effectively and clearly highlight the benefits of their work and more successfully engage the public in the complex debate about the value of conservation research to protecting ecosystem function, ecosystem services and evolutionary potential.

History

Publication title

Biological Conservation

Volume

153

Pagination

254-256

ISSN

0006-3207

Department/School

Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies

Publisher

Elsevier Sci Ltd

Place of publication

The Boulevard, Langford Lane, Kidlington, Oxford, England, Oxon, Ox5 1Gb

Rights statement

Copyright 2012 Elsevier Ltd.

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Expanding knowledge in the biological sciences

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