Browsing by Person "Dwyer, Cathy M."

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Exploration of cultural norms and behavioural beliefs about zoo animal behaviour, welfare, ethics and husbandry practices in a sample of the international zoo community
(2023-01-22) Bacon, Heather; Bell, Catriona; Dwyer, Cathy M.; Waran, Natalie; Qing, Yan; Xia, Liu; Shaw, Darren J.
Beliefs influence the intentions of people to behave in certain ways towards animals. This study presents survey responses from 237 people working in zoos in China and Europe and describes their demographic characteristics. It explores their beliefs about zoo animal behaviour, welfare and ethical issues, and zoo practices, using a survey methodology. These beliefs may be influenced by individual demographic or cultural factors such as age, gender and region of employment, as well as experiential or situative ‘norms’ within the work environment. Beliefs were significantly influenced by the region of employment with Chinese respondents beliefs being significantly different to beliefs from respondents in the United Kingdom or the rest of Europe. Hierarchical cluster analysis of the survey generated clusters of people from both regions who indicated positive beliefs about zoo animal welfare as well as clu sters indicating a lack of understanding of some zoo animal welfare issues. In addition, a cluster suggesting cognitive dissonance between beliefs about animals welfare and zoo practices was generated from Chinese responses. Factor analysis identified that prioritisation of in‐situ conservation within good animal welfare was a key feature in Chinese respondents, whereas European beliefs prioritising in‐situ conservation were distinct from those on supporting good animal welfare. This paper identifies similarities and differences in beliefs about zoo animal welfare and zoo husbandry practices between Europe and China, and discusses the underlying norms and values that these beliefs may reflect.
Positive and negative gestational handling influences placental traits and mother-offspring behavior in dairy goats
(Elsevier, 2016-04-01) Baxter, Emma M.; Mulligan, Johan; Hall, Sarah A.; Donbavand, Jo E.; Palme, Rupert; Al-Dujaili, Emad A. S.; Zanella, Adroaldo J.; Dwyer, Cathy M.
Dairy animals are subjected to a number of potential stressors throughout their lives, including daily interactions with humans. The quality of these interactions may have direct consequences for the animal undergoing the experience, but if such events occur during gestation it may also affect the developing fetus. This study examined the effects of differential handling during mid-gestation in 40 twin-bearing Saanen Toggenburg primiparous goats. Between days 80 and 115 of gestation (gestation = 150 days), goats were subjected to aversive (AVS, n = 13), gentle (GEN, n = 13) or minimal (M, n = 14) handling protocols for 10 minute periods twice daily. The control (M) group did not receive handling treatments and all goats received normal husbandry procedures outside treatment periods. Salivary cortisol measured during the treatment period was higher in AVS goats (mean cortisol (sem) in pg/_l: AVS: 176.7 (18.2), GEN: 119.6 (11.1), M: 126.5 (13.7); P = 0.007). Data collection was focussed on mother-offspring behaviors 2 h post-partum, placental morphology and colostrum quality. AVS goats were the only treatment group to suffer fetal loss (16% loss vs 0% in GEN and M, P = 0.05). Treatment also influenced placental morphology with a tendency for fewer cotyledons evident in placentae from the aversive treatment (AVS: 87.9 (7.8), GEN: 107.1 (7.9), M: 112.1 (9.3), P = 0.093), and significantly fewer medium sized cotyledons (AVS: 67.6 (7.8), GEN: 89.3 (6.4), M: 84.3 (5.4), P = 0.042). GEN goats displayed more grooming and nosing behaviors towards their young during the first 2 h post-partum (grooming: GEN: 89.3% (7.1), AVS: 72.6% (7.7), M: 63.4% (9.0), P = 0.045; nosing frequency: GEN: 58.8 (12.5), AVS: 28.6 (11.1), M: 34.7 (6.5), P = 0.021). There was an overall trend for kids from mothers experiencing the AVS treatment to take longer to stand, reach the udder and suck compared to kids from GEN and M treatment groups. Treatment significantly affected latency to perform play behavior, with kids from AVS goats taking on average 25 min longer to play for the first time than kids from GEN and M treatment groups (P < 0.001). The results show that handling during gestation affects placental morphology, fetal survival and post-partum maternal behaviors, and influences kid behavioral development. Such results have important animal welfare implications, demonstrating that negative handling of pregnant females results in poorer placental quality with potential for fetal loss. It also demonstrates the beneficial effects of positive handling on enhancement of maternal behaviors.
The modern zoo: Demographics and perceptions of two international groups of zoo staff
(MDPI, 2021-11-22) Bacon, Heather; Vigors, Belinda; Shaw, Darren J.; Waran, Natalie; Dwyer, Cathy M.; Bell, Catriona
Characterising the people that work in zoos is a key element of understanding how zoos might better contribute to conservation activities. The purpose of this study was to investigate demographics, early life experiences and perceptions of zoo staff to the role of the modern zoo. This paper reports the key characteristics and qualitative themes emerging from study of international (European and Chinese) zoo professionals. Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted with eight Chinese and eight European zoo staff about aspects of zoological animal welfare, conservation and zoological practices. These qualitative data were thematically analysed, and themes generated. This paper describes interviewee demographics and two themes relating to ‘early life influences’ and ‘the role of the modern zoo’. This analysis indicates that demographic data and early life influences of zoo professionals were broadly similar between two culturally diverse regions, but that their views on the role of the modern zoo differed, particularly in terms of their perceptions of conservation activities, with European interviewees focussing on biodiversity conservation, and Chinese interviewees focussing on animal protection.
Zookeepers – The most important animal in the zoo?
(Taylor & Francis, 2021-12-13) Bacon, Heather; Vigors, Belinda; Shaw, Darren J.; Waran, Natalie; Dwyer, Cathy M.; Bell, Catriona
Education to improve knowledge of animal welfare is not a universal component of training for zoo staff, and little is reported about the perspectives of zoo staff on the need for such education. This paper reports results from structured telephone interviews of a diverse sample of eight Chinese and eight European zoo staff about aspects of zoological animal welfare, education and zoological practices. These qualitative data were thematically analyzed and key themes generated. Similar themes emerged across regions: Zoo staff consider professional attributes including motivation and enthusiasm to be important alongside formal training, zoo staff value learning opportunities but don’t always feel supported, and contextual information including wild animal ecology was considered important content in zoo animal welfare education.