Registrations Now Open!
March 24 - 26, 2020
Bringing together animal
welfare research and
application, to improve
evidence-based animal
welfare best practice
Hosted by Apenheul Primate Park Foundation
Bridging the Gap
EAZA ANIMAL WELFARE FORUM
THEPROGRAMME
Academy Course
Side meetings
Icebreaker
Session 1: Bridging the Gap
Session 2: The Physical Domains - Health and Behaviour
Sessions 3: Session by WAZA: Animal - Visitor Interactions
Session 4: The Physical Domains - Nutrition and Environment
Session 5: Welfare and Ethics
Session 6: The Affective Experience (Mental Domain)
Farewell Dinner
MONDAY 23 MARCH
Pre-conference Day
TUESDAY 24 MARCH
Conference Day 1
WEDNESDAY 25 MARCH
Conference Day 2
THURSDAY 26 MARCH
Conference Day 3
FRIDAY 27 MARCH
Apenheul Primate Park tour
Stichting AAP Tour
Any questions relating to conference logistics andregistration, please contact [email protected] Any questions relating to the programme, please contact [email protected]
T H E M E
Bridging the Gap: Bringing together animal welfare
research and appl icat ion, to improve evidence -based animal
welfare best pract ice. With new advances in animal welfare
research and understanding, i t is important that we are able
to employ this science in our col lect ions to ensure we are
doing everything we can to promote posit ive animal welfare.
The f i rst session is solely dedicated to this theme with a
direct focus on animal welfare assessment.
The programme is then structured to ref lect Mellor and
Beausolei l ’s (2015 ) extended Five Domains of Animal
Welfare model . The four Physical /Functional Domains:
Nutr i t ion, Environment, Health & Behaviour and the one
Affect ive Experience Domain: Mental State. Each domain is
explored with the lens of the bridging the gap theme,
focusing on how we can implement the research in each of
these areas within the our zoos and aquariums.
Join our Facebook group 'EAZA Animal Welfare ' for updates
on the programme, and keep an eye on the website:
https: / /www.eaza.net /events /eaza -animal -welfare - forum /
Please note: All programme detai ls were correct at the point of
programme release. However, detai ls may be subject to change.
Refunds cannot be given due to programme change.
Enriching
Enrichment
Bridging the gap between ‘occupational enrichment’and ‘species specific ecology based enrichment’.
This course is aimed at anyone involved or interested in theimplementation of enrichment programs and their effect onan animals well-being. Using a theoretical and practical approach we will explorethe different facets of planning, implementation, evaluationand re-adjustment of enrichment programs. Looking through the lens of promoting agency we willanalyse how to achieve enrichment success in the physical,psychological engagement of an animal whilst aligning withspecies specific ecological needs.
Ice breaker
P R E C O N F E R E N C EEAZA Academy Course
InstructorsThomas Bionda, Apenheul Primate Park & Lisette van den Berg, Utrecht University
18:15- 22:00Kambizuri Lodges
Location Kambizuri Lodges
Plenary
presentations
WelcomeDr. Holly Farmer, EAZA Animal Welfare Working Group; & Roel Welsing, Apenheul Primate Park
Assessing theassessmentsLisa Clifforde, ZSL LondonZooHanna-Maija Lahtinen,Korkeasaari Zoo
Converging animalwelfare scienceDr. Samantha J. Ward,Nottingham Trent UniversityDr. Geoff Hosey, University ofBolton
Designing andconducting animalwelfareassessmentsDr. Marina Salas, Antwerp ZooDr. Xavier Manteca,Autonomous University ofBarcelona
Evidence-based animal welfare assessments: challenges and application in zoos and aquariaDr. Xavier Manteca, Autonomous University of Barcelona
Morning Tea 11:00 - 11:30
Bridging the GapDr. Susannah Thorpe, University of Birmingham
Dolphin-WET (WelfareEvaluation Tool): a protocol forthe evaluation of bottlenosedolphins (Tursiops truncatus)welfare under human careDr. Katrin Baumgartner, Zoo Nuremberg
Findings after multiple applicationsof the C-Well assessment for dolphinwelfare: validity, updating theassessment and a case study atKolmården Wildlife ParkDr. Isabella Clegg, Animal Welfare Expertise (IC)Linda Berggren, Kolmården Wildlife ParkFilip Johansson, Kolmården Wildlife Park
The BIAZA AnimalWelfare Toolkit: Apractical guide to zooanimal welfare andassessmentJessica Harley, Tayto Park Dr. Fay Clark, Bristol ZooDr. Paul Rose, Exeter Uni
D A Y 1 - M A R C H 2 4Session 1: Bridging the Gap
8:45 - 10:00
Break out
sessions
10:00 - 11:00
Break out
sessions
11:30 - 12:30
Workshop WorkshopWorkshop
Bridging academia into aquaria:Rethinking collaborations forimproving animal welfaremanagement, research andeducationDr. Oriol Tallo-Parra, Zoo Animal WelfareEducation Cantre (ZAWEC)
PResentations
A holistic, quick turnaround,multi-site, multi-taxon approachto welfare assessmentTayanne Corbani, Sam South, HollyCole Paignton Zoo (Wild Planet Trust)
Welfare assessment tooldevelopment for routine use inzoo animalsJessica van Mildert, Apenheul Primate park,the Netherlands
PResentations
The Animal Welfare AssessmentGrid (AWAG) – a flexible tool forthe continuous monitoring of zooanimal welfareDr. Will Justice, Marwell wildlife
A holistic approach usingbehaviour and physiology tomonitor welfare in zoologicalcollectionsDr. Leah Williams and Katherine Finch, ChesterZoo, UK
Workshop Workshop
Assessing theassessmentsLisa Clifforde, ZSL LondonZooHanna-Maija Lahtinen,Korkeasaari Zoo
Workshop Workshop
Repeat Workshop Repeat WorkshopRepeat Workshop
PResentations
A comparative investigation ofwelfare indicators in three groupsof captive odontocetesAgathe Serres, Institute of Hydrobiology,Chinese Academy of Sciences
Lunch 13:00 - 14:00
Poster Presenatations Poster speed presentations 12:30 - 13:00
Location: The St@art
Converging animalwelfare scienceDr. Samantha J. Ward,Nottingham Trent UniversityDr. Geoff Hosey, University ofBolton
Designing andconducting animalwelfareassessmentsDr. Marina Salas, Antwerp ZooDr. Xavier Manteca,Autonomous University ofBarcelona
A review of indicators of welfarein polar bears (Ursus maritimus) inzoosCecile Ravn Skovlund, CopenhagenZoo/University of Copenhagen
ConductingBehavioural StudiesDr. Caterina Spiezio, ParcoNatura VivaDr. Barbara Regaiolli, ParcoNatura Viva
While you wereSleeping: MeetingAnimals’ Sleep NeedsBrendan Walsh, Dublin Zoo
Location: The St@art
Zoo keepers develop QualitativeBehaviour Assessment as a welfareassessment tool at Twycross Zoo.Freisha Patel, Twycross Zoo, UK
Visual body condition scoringof orangutan in therehabilitation center, EastKalimantan, Indonesia.Fryana Rahayu, The Borneo OrangutanSurvival Foundation
Making inter-species welfarecomparisons: a philosophicalapproachHeather Browning, National Zoo and Aquarium,Australia
D A Y 1 - M A R C H 2 4Session 2: The Physical Domains, Health and Behaviour Session
The ethics of an ageing population – geriatric animal welfareDr Heather Bacon, Jeanne Marchig Centre for Animal Welfare Outreach Education
Location: The St@art
Plenary
presentations
14:00 - 15:00
Behavioural diversity as a potential positive indicator of animal welfareDr Lance Miller, Chicago Zoological Society – Brookfield Zoo
Break out
sessions
15:30 - 16:30
Identifyinganimal welfareprioritiesDr. Jake Veasey,Vancouver Aquarium
WorkshopWorkshop
Is ‘enrichment’enriching: EvaluatingenrichmentLisette van den Berg, UtrechtUniversity
Workshop PResentations PResentations
Applied behaviour analysis as a toolfor animal welfare in Helsinki Zoo
Merja Wahlroos, Helsinki Zoo, Finland
The importance of activitybudgets in promoting positiveanimal welfareDr. Rachel Robbins, Zoos South Australia
Reviewing abnormalbehaviours as welfareindicatorsMaria Diez-Leon, The Royal VeterinaryCollege
Afternoon Tea 15:00 - 15:30
Break out
sessions
16:30 - 17:30
PResentations
Extended Workshop
Workshop PResentations PResentations
Old but Gold: Geriatric AnimalCare Programme at WildlifeReserves SingaporeClaudia Tay, Wildlife Reserves Singapore
Social networks & captive welfarein Livingstone’s fruit batsDr Christina Stanley, University of Chester
Location: The St@art
Welfare protocol for giraffes incaptivityDr. Marina Salas, Zoo Antwerp Centre forResearch and Conservation
Is ‘enrichment’enriching: EvaluatingenrichmentLisette van den Berg, UtrechtUniversity
Building a database ofevidence for the effectiveness ofhusbandry and managementinterventions forthe conservation and welfare ofcaptive animalsDr Anaëlle Lemasson, Wild Planet Trust (incollaboration with the University of Cambridge)
Session 3: Global approach to Visitor
Animal Interactions - Session by WAZA
Location: The St@art
discussion
Panel
11:30 - 12:15
discussion
Panel
12:15 - 13:oo
D A Y 2 - M A R C H 2 5
The development and validation of a welfare risk assessment tool for zoosDr. Sally Sherwen, Zoos Victoria
Plenary
presentations
9:00 - 11:00
The 2023 WAZA Animal Welfare GoalDr. Jenny Gray, Zoos Victoria
Morning Tea 11:00 - 11:30
Approaches to animal - visitor interactions across the world’s regionsPanellists: Dr. Sally Sherwen (AUS), Dr. Alexandra Guerra (Latin America), April Adams (EAZA), Gabrielle Harris, (South AfricanAssociation For Marine Biological Research), Willem Manansang (SEAZA) Hosted by Ms Karen Fifield, Wellington Zoo, Chair of the WAZA Ethics and Animal Welfare Committee
Management of animal-visitors interaction policies from an organisation’s point of viewHosted by Dr. Jenny Gray Panellists to be confirmed
Lunch 13:00 - 14:00
Session possible thanks to:
D A Y 2 - M A R C H 2 5Session 4: The Physical Domains, Nutrit ion and Environment Session
Reducing sugarDr. Francis Cabana, Wildlife Reserves Singapore
UV and lightingDr. Frances Baines, UV Guide UK
UV and lightingDr. Frances Baines, UV Guide UK Lisa Clifforde, ZSL London Zoo
Location: The St@art
Plenary
presentations
14:00 - 15:30
24/7 Soundscape - what kind of noise exposure do zoo animals experienceDr. Kirsi Pynnonen-Oudman, Helsinki Zoo
Break out
sessions
16:00 - 17:00
Workshop Workshop Workshop
Reducing sugarDr. Francis Cabana, Wildlife Reserves Singapore
Reducing sugarDr. Francis Cabana, Wildlife Reserves Singapore
Workshop Workshop
UV and lightingDr. Frances Baines, UV Guide UK Lisa Clifforde, ZSL London Zoo
Repeat Workshop Repeat Workshop
Assessing welfareusing thermal imagingDr. Gerardo Garcia, Chester Zoo Using a worldwide zoo
database to assess the effectof circadian synchrony onanimal welfareKristine Gandia, University of Stirling
Well-integrated individuals forwell-managed breedingprograms: when populationgestion joined animal welfarethanks to social introductiontechniquesDr. Amélie Romain, Bureau d’étude AKONGO,Toulon, France
PResentations
What is in it for me? Welfareassessment of a captivecolony of African penguinsbefore and after the transferto a new enclosureFrancesca Bandoli, Giardino Zoologico diPistoia, Pistoia, Italy
Use of biological criteria todevelop minimal standards formammals in zoos in FlandersDr. Hilde Vervaecke Odisee University College
PResentations
Break out
sessions
17:00 - 18:00
Afternoon Tea 15:30 - 16:00
Confronting Back-of-House Traditions: Primatesas a Case StudySabrina Brando, AnimalConcepts &University of StirlingJon Coe, Jon Coe Design Pty. Ltd
Developing a Metric ofUsable Space for Zoo ExhibitsHeather Browning, National Zoo andAquarium, Australia
PResentations
Food for thought:Marmosets husbandry andvitamin DIris van der Eerden, AAP, AnimalAdvocacy & Protection
Nutrition matters! The role ofanimal nutrition in improvingzoo animal welfareAnouk Fens, Apenheul Primate Park
PResentationsWorkshop
Assessing welfareusing thermal imagingDr. Gerardo Garcia, Chester Zoo
Repeat Workshop
Does giving outdoor accessto aye-ayes improve theirwelfare while maintaining amodified light cycle toaccommodate husbandry andnon-invasive researchMeg H. Dye, Duke Lemur Center
D A Y 3 - M A R C H 2 6
Location: The St@art
Plenary
presentations
8:30- 10:30
Panel Discussion
11:00 - 12:00
presentationBreak out
sessions
12:00 - 12:45
PResentations
What is Ethics? Understanding ethics in a zoo contextDr. Mike King, University of Otago
Balancing animal welfare with breeding programme needs Dr Holly Farmer, Wild Planet Trust
The complex relationship between breeding and welfareThomas Bionda, Apenheul Primate Park
Morning Tea 10:30 - 11:00
Internationalcommonalities in zoowelfare concernsDr. Samantha J.Ward, Nottingham TrentUniversity and Wild Welfare
PResentation
Spanning zoos withNesciobrug: a footbridgetowards animal welfare
Session 5: The Paradox of Ethics and Welfare
Dr. Eileen (Kat) Tuite, CharlesDarwin University, Australia
Compassion on the Ark: ApplyingCompassionate ConservationPrinciples to Improve AnimalWelfare Best Practices
Anne Safiya Clay George MasonUniversity
PResentation
Animal welfare andconservation breedingprogrammes: linking exsitu welfare with breedingand reintroductionsuccess Dr. Maria Diez-Leon, The RoyalVeterinary College
Animal welfare, ethics and conservation breeding - an ethical debateChaired by Dr. Holly Farmer. Panellists: Dr Jake Veasey (Vancover Aquarium), Dr Heather Bacon (Jeanne Marchig Centre for Animal Welfare Outreach Education), ThomasBionda (Apenheul Primate Park), Maria Diez-Leon (The Royal Veterinary College), Dr. Jenny Gray (Zoos Victoria), Sander Hofman (Antwerp Zoo)
The Zoo that Communicates Welfare
Kanako Tomisawa, Omuta City Zoo
Lunch 12:45 - 13:45
Animal welfare activism and the future of zoos and aquariums; threat or opportunity?Dr Jake Veasey,Vancover Aquarium
D A Y 3 - M A R C H 2 6
Location: The St@art
Plenary
presentations
13:45 - 14:45
Break out
sessions
14:45 - 15:45
Workshop
Repeat Workshop
How can we tell ifanimals are optimists orpessimists? Designingcognitive bias tests tomeasure animalwelfare in zoos andaquariaDr. Isabella Clegg, AnimalWelfare Expertise (IC)
Anthropomorphism inthe management of zooanimalsDr. Heather Bacon, JeanneMarchig Centre for AnimalWelfare Outreach Education
PResentations
Animal–Visitor InteractionProtocol (AVIP) onLemur catta walk-inenclosure at Pistoia Zoo(Italy)Ilaria Pollastri, Università degli Studi diPadova
Zoo visitor-animal interactions:a framework to progress ourunderstanding of impacts onanimal welfareDr. Vicky Melfi, Hartpury University
PResentations
Break out
sessions
16:15 - 17:15
Competence, Agency& Animal WelfareDr. Fay Clark, BristolZoological Society
How are you?Understanding thesorrows and joys ofcaring for animalsSabrina Brando, AnimalConcepts &University of Stirling Lynette Hart, University ofCalifornia Davis
PResentationPresentation
Cognitive bias: the keyto better understandanimal affectivestates?Daan W. Laméris,Marcel Eens, Dr. Jeroen M.G.Stevens, Antwerp ZOO CRC& University of Antwerp
Session 6: The Affective Experience Domain (Mental State) Session
Why animal feelings matterDr Heather Bacon, Jeanne Marchig Centre for Animal Welfare Outreach Education
Cognitive Bias in Zoo AnimalsDr. Isabella Clegg, Animal Welfare Expertise (IC)
Animal-Computer Interaction: bridging the welfare gap within zoos and aquariaDr. Patrizia Paci, The Open University, UK
Where training andwelfare clash andconverge: promotionof positive affectivestatesAnnette Pedersen,Copenhagen ZooDr. Kirstin AndersonHansen, Marine BiologicalResearch Center
Afternoon Tea 15:45 - 16:15
Where training andwelfare clash andconverge: promotionof positive affectivestatesAnnette Pedersen,Copenhagen ZooDr. Kirstin AndersonHansen, Marine BiologicalResearch Center
Animal-ComputerInteraction: bridging thewelfare gap within zoosand aquariaDr. Patrizia Paci, The OpenUniversity, UK
Presentation
Tinder for orang-utans:developing tasks toincrease reproductivesuccess and wellbeingTom Roth, Leiden University
Repeat Presentations
PResentations
Animal-ComputerInteraction: bridging thewelfare gap within zoosand aquariaDr. Patrizia Paci, The OpenUniversity, UK
Tinder for orang-utans:developing tasks toincrease reproductivesuccess and wellbeing
Tom Roth, Leiden University
PResentation
Closing 17:15 - 17:30 Dr. Holly Farmer, Chair of EAZA Animal Welfare Working Group
Farewell dinner 19:00 - 00:00
Presentation
Presentation
D A Y 4 - M A R C H 2 7Zoo Tours
Optional Apenheul
and AAP visit
A zoo visit to Apenheul and an additional visit to AAP Animal Advocacy and Protection (Almere) on Friday 27March is offered to registered delegates that attend the forum for at least two days.
P O S T E R S
10:00 - 12:00: Zoo visit Apenheul 12:00 - 13:00: Transport by coach to AAP (including lunch option at own cost, approx. €7 to pay for with card) 13:00 - 15:00:Visit and guided tour AAP The coach is kindly offered by Apenheul After the visit to AAP delegates can decide to return to Apeldoorn by coach or to continue elsewhere, there are buses running fromAAP to Almere train station.
Is an elephant always the same? Analysis of welfare parameters of two zoo-housed Asian elephants across seasons Francesca Bandoli, Giardino Zoologico di Pistoia
Constructing and ethogram for captive aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis) Elizabeth Roe, Sparsholt University Centre
Monitoring of enrichment effectiveness in Kyiv zoo Dr. Maryna Shkvyia, Kyiv Zoological Park of National Importance
Emotional lateralization: A potential tool to assess bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) welfare? Aviva Charles, Parc Asterix, France
Evaluating the effectiveness of mixed-species pairing to reduce the number of singly-housed gibbons at Japan Monkey Centre Makiko Uchikoshi, Primate Research Institute / Japan Monkey Centre
Can breeding behaviour and life history details predict the captive breeding success of aye-ayes (Daubentonia madagascariensis)? A novel use for ZIMS data Elizabeth Roe, Sparsholt University Centre
First evidence that environmental enrichment could help assessing dolphins’ welfare Ruta Vaicekauskaite, Fox Consulting, France
Improving welfare standards in wildlife rescue centres and sanctuaries Annemarie Weegenaar, Global Animal Welfare
Applied research to inform zoo husbandry: examples from an evidence based approach to Asian elephant (Elephas maximus) management at ZSL Whipsnade Zoo.
Katherine Finch, Lewis J. Rowden and Fiona Sach, ZSL Whipsnade Zoo & Chester Zoo
Potential indicators of welfare in three species of polar seals (Erignathus barbatus, Pagophilus groenlandicus, Pusa hispida) under human care Christine Dumas, Oceanopolis, France
How an Ethological and Welfare advisor can help to improve your animal daily life: a new design methodology applied to spider monkey enclosures María Abellán, María Figuerola, Danaus ArqDesign
Influence of training and enrichment on giraffes behaviors and general condition in practice Dr. Tomasz Matyja, Silesian Zoological Garden
The influence of Zoo visitors on the behavior of Japanese Macaques (Macaca fuscata) Elena Agafonova, Leningradsky Zoo
Potential indicators of welfare in three species of polar seals (Erignathus barbatus, Pagophilus groenlandicus, Pusa hispida) under human care Matlova Maria, Leningradsky Zoo
Olfactory environment enrichment effect on felids behaviour Gilitskaya Julia, Leningradsky Zoo
From feeding fish multiple times a day to just once for enrichment purposes Sander van Lopik, Diergaarde Blijdorp/Rotterdam Zoo
Using IoT sensors to record long-term activity budgets in tortoises – evaluation of the wellbeing of an African species in a Northern Europe zoo Dr. Kirsi Pynnonen-Oudman, Helsinki Zoo, Finland
Susannah Thorpe is Head of Research for the School ofBiosciences at the University of Birmingham, UK. Her researchemploys a multidisciplinary approach in primate behaviouralecology to reveal how primates interact with complex naturalhabitats and the environmental constraints that steer theirevolution. Over the last 4 years she has focussed on applyingher research to improving the quality of life of captive greatapes via a major programme of impact generation with the UKzoo community and the global great ape sanctuarycommunity. She co-created the Enclosure Design Tool: a web-based tool that translates the latest discoveries in behaviouralecology research to help zoos and sanctuaries encouragenatural behavioural profiles in their chimpanzees andorangutans. She is also Chair of the Great Ape Welfaregroup (GAWg), which she co-created with BIAZA in 2018.
OUR SPEAKERSSee some of our amazing presenters and their work below!
Xavier Manteca Vilanova received his BVSc and PhD degreesfrom the Autonomous University of Barcelona and an MSc inApplied Animal Behaviour and Animal Welfare from theUniversity of Edinburgh. Currently, he is full professor of animalbehaviour and animal welfare at the School of VeterinaryScience in Barcelona. One of his main areas of interest is thewelfare of zoo animals and, particularly, zoo animal welfareassessment. Xavier is a diplomate of the European College ofAnimal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine.
Thomas Bionda is a behavioural biologistwith a focus on primates and has beenworking professionally in captive animalmanagement for over 7 years. He hasearned his Master’s degree in BehaviouralEcology at Utrecht University in 2011 andhas since worked at Apenheul PrimatePark, Wageningen University andFoundation AAP. He has great interest inanimal behaviour, animal welfare,husbandry and (education) conservationwhere he aims to apply his academicknowledge about these topics in a practicalway, currently as zoological manager atApenheul Primate Park.
Prof Geoff Hosey was Principal Lecturer in Biology at the University of Bolton until hisretirement in 2005, and is now Honorary Professor there. His experience of undertaking researchand supervising students has mostly been in behavioural biology, animal welfare andprimatology, and he is still involved in research on zoo animal welfare, particularly about human-animal relationships in the zoo. He is a member of the BIAZA Research Committee and is one ofthe authors of the textbook Zoo Animals: Behaviour, Management and Welfare (Oxford UP, 2ndedition 2013).
Dr Samantha Ward is a Senior Lecturer inAnimal Science at Nottingham Trent Universityand manages the undergraduate Bachelordegree course in Zoo Animal Biology. Sam’sresearch focusses zoo animal welfare science.In particular, the impacts that human-animalinteractions and human-animal relationshipshave on zoo animals, and investigations intohow zoo animal husbandry and managementtechniques impact and improve captivewelfare. Sam sits on the BIAZA ResearchCommittee group and is the Defra ZEC ZooWelfare Specialist, and has both practical andmanagerial industry experience as well heracademic background in research.
Heather Bacon is the Veterinary Welfare Educationand Outreach manager at the Jeanne MarchigInternational Centre for Animal Welfare Educationat the University of Edinburgh. She is responsible fordeveloping and coordinating the overseasveterinary training initiatives of the Centre. Sheorganises postgraduate MSc courses and alsoteaches veterinary students at the University ofEdinburgh in animal welfare behaviour andveterinary ethics. Additionally, she works withNGOs, veterinary, and political organisations todevelop veterinary educational initiatives around theworld. Previously, she has lived in China working asthe Veterinary Director at the Animals AsiaFoundation, an NGO working to end the trade inbear bile across Asia. Heather graduated from theUniversity of Bristol with a degree in VeterinaryMedicine and Surgery, and the University ofLiverpool with a degree in Conservation medicine.Heather’s research interests include the influence ofculture and geography on attitudes to animalwelfare, zoo animal welfare assessment and human-animal interactions.
OUR SPEAKERSSee some of our amazing presenters and their work below!
Kirstin Anderson Hansen is currently a Postdoc at theInstitute of Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife, University ofVeterinary Medicine Hannover and in cooperation with theUniversity of Southern Denmark, where she trains grey sealsand aquatic birds, currently common murres to investigatethe effects of underwater noise on marine life. She startedher career at the University of California in Santa Cruz over25 years ago, working with cetaceans as a researchassistant and trainer. Later, she followed some of thedolphins to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago, where sheworked and trained Pacific White-sided dolphins, Belugawhales, harbor seals, sea otters and penguins. In 1998, shewas offered a trainer position at the Fjord and Baelt inDenmark, training harbour porpoises and harbour seals forresearch and public demonstrations. From 2003 to 2013, shewas the training coordinator and zoological curator atOdense Zoo, where she had the opportunity to expand hertraining experience to all types of animals, including lions,tigers, giraffes, tapirs, birds, and manatees. Kirstin is the Co-Chair for the Training Committee at theDanish Association for Zoos and Aquariums (DAZA), as wellas an expert advisor for the Animal Training Working Groupat the European Association of Zoos and Aquariums (EAZA),where she is also an instructor for the animal training andmanagement courses for both DAZA and EAZA.
OUR SPEAKERSSee some of our amazing presenters and their work below!
Brendan Walsh is a zoo keeper atDublin Zoo and has worked there since1996. He holds a BSc in AnimalManagement and a higher diploma inAnimal Science. Improving the livingconditions of animals in zoos is his mainpassion, and believes this can beachieved through research of animalbehaviour followed by corrective actionsof husbandry and housing if necessary.
Annette Pedersen started working in CopenhagenZoo in 1989 as a part of the Danish keepers’education. After finishing her education in 1992, shegot hired for the marine mammal section (HarborSeals and California Sea lions), which also housedother animals like penguins, Malayan tapirs,barbirusa, etc. Here she helped developing themarine mammal training program until 2008, whereshe moved to the Elephant section working ontransferring the Elephants from free contact toprotected contact (PC). Later that same year she gotthe position as Animal Training Coordinator ofCopenhagen Zoo. Since 2008 her job has been todevelop/expand the training skills of the keepers atCopenhagen Zoo, as well as managing animalbehavior and training within a variety of species andchallenges.
Since 2009 Annette helped develop the Danish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (DAZA) animaltraining course, which is still held once a year in Denmark. She serves the European Association of Zoosand Aquariums (EAZA) as Chair for the Animal Training Working Group and as member of the AnimalWelfare Working group. She is also an instructor for the EAZA animal training courses under the EAZAAcademy. 2014-2016 served on the board of the Animal Behavior Management Alliance (ABMA), andtoday serves as ABMA EU liaison helping planning another European ABMA conference in 2020 inBeekse Bergen, Holland!
OUR SPEAKERSSee some of our amazing presenters and their work below!
Kirsi Pynnönen-Oudman has worked as the Research Coordinator atHelsinki zoo for the past two years. She has worked in zoos for morethan 20 years and therefore has a wealth of experience in a vastrange of zoo animals. Her main interest lies with the birds of prey,particularly owls, and she is the chair of EAZA Raptor TAG. Next to her work at Helsinki zoo, she also teaches at the University ofHelsinki. Prior to working at the zoo, she held a position at theuniversity as a research fellow on the field of ethology andecotoxicology.
OUR SPEAKERSSee some of our amazing presenters and their work below!
Any questions relating to conference logistics andregistration, please contact [email protected] Any questions relating to the programme, please contact [email protected]
Dr Isabella Clegg is an animal welfare scientist, specialising in marine mammal welfare incaptivity. She has degrees in Animal Behaviour and Welfare, Marine Mammal Science, and herPhD was on developing welfare parameters for bottlenose dolphins. Following her PhD, shewanted to address the knowledge and application gap between academia and animal useindustries, and set up Animal Welfare Expertise (AWE)- an animal welfare consultancy thatpioneers an animal-based, scientific approach to conduct welfare assessments of captiveanimals (e.g. the C-Well© Assessment for dolphins), and objectively advises animal facilities,the travel industry, NGOs, governments and conservation projects. Her work has beencovered by the BBC, New Scientist and others, and she recently gave a TEDx talk on howstudying animal welfare can teach us about our own happiness
OUR SPEAKERSSee some of our amazing presenters and their work below!
Any questions relating to conference logistics andregistration, please contact [email protected] Any questions relating to the programme, please contact [email protected]
Dr. Frances Baines, M.A.Vet.M.B.,M.R.C.V.S. has spent the last 15 yearsresearching the use of specialist lighting,including ultraviolet lighting, in thehusbandry of reptiles, amphibians andmore recently, mammals, birds andinvertebrates. She is an appointed Advisorto the British and Irish Association of Zoosand Aquariums (BIAZA) and to the EAZAAnimal Welfare Working Group. Francesassisted with the development of a guideto the use of UVB in zoos, the BIAZARAWG UV-Tool; has co-authored anumber of scientific papers; and hasrecently contributed chapters on reptilelighting to several textbooks including thelatest edition of Mader's Reptile Medicineand Surgery. She lives in a small village inrural Wales, with her husband and 17lizards.
Alexandra Guerra is a Chilean veterinarian witha university degree in Ethology and AnimalWelfare, both degrees obtained at theUniversidad Mayor de Chile. Her thesis wasrelated to the analysis of chimpanzeeresocialization behavior in a zoo. Since 2013, shehas been working in the Latin AmericanAssociation of Zoological Parks and Aquariums(ALPZA), during her first years asCommunications Coordinator and for 2 years inthe position of Executive Director.
OUR SPEAKERSSee some of our amazing presenters and their work below!
Any questions relating to conference logistics andregistration, please contact [email protected] Any questions relating to the programme, please contact [email protected]
Dr Jenny Gray is the Chief Executive Officer of Zoos Victoriain Australia. Jenny has a background in management,transportation, engineering and ethics which provides aunique set of skills to tackle the challenges of transforming thethree zoos that comprise Zoos Victoria: Melbourne Zoo,Healesville Sanctuary and Werribee Open Range Zoo. Jenny’s career history boasts a strong mix of commercial andpublic sector roles in South Africa and now in Australia. Priorto the role at Zoos Victoria Jenny was the Chief ExecutiveOfficer at the Johannesburg Zoo. Jenny has a PhD in Ethicsand is the author of Zoo Ethics: The Challenges ofCompassionate Conservation. Jenny is WAZA’s Immediate Past President and is a strongadvocate of the role that zoos can play in empowering visitorsto take actions that help wildlife.
Dr Sally Sherwen is the Director of Wildlife Conservation andScience at Zoos Victoria (the Conservation Organisationcharged with the operation of Melbourne Zoo, Werribee OpenRange Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary in Australia). Sally leadsa dynamic team of scientists and specialists that develop anddeliver strategic programs in conservation, animal welfare,education and environmental sustainability. Sally has a PhD in Animal Welfare Science and in previousroles has established an evidence-based research program inanimal behaviour and welfare science, developed andimplemented an institutional welfare assessment tool toadvance welfare standards and designed and rancollaborative training courses with several NGOs for industryprofessionals and community groups. Sally is also a member of the Animal Welfare AdvisoryCommittee for the Victorian Government, where she acts asone of the State’s 8 expert scientists charged with advisingthe Government on Animal Welfare issues that arise within theState across all animal industries (wildlife, agriculture, petsand zoos)
OUR SPEAKERSSee some of our amazing presenters and their work below!
Any questions relating to conference logistics andregistration, please contact [email protected] Any questions relating to the programme, please contact [email protected]
Dr. Lance Miller, Vice President of Conservation Science and Animal Welfare Research,received his graduate training in Experimental Psychology from the University of SouthernMississippi. Previously, he held positions as a Research Manager at Disney’s AnimalKingdom and Scientist for the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. He iscurrently a member of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) Research andTechnology Committee, Chair of the AZA Animal Welfare Committee, and a steeringcommittee member for the AZA Behavioral Scientific Advisory Group and AmbassadorAnimal Scientific Advisory Group.