Assessing Emotions in Wild Animals
Published:13 Jun.2023 Source:University of Technology Sydney
A world-first holistic framework for assessing the mental and psychological wellbeing of wild animals has been developed by UTS Chancellor's Postdoctoral Research Fellow Dr Andrea Harvey, a veterinarian and animal welfare scientist in the TD School at the University of Technology Sydney.
The significance of the study lies in its potential to revolutionise conservation efforts. Instead of focusing solely on population numbers and reproductive success, the research explores the quality of life experienced by wild animals. Her comprehensive conceptual framework, called the '10 Stage Protocol', includes physical and behavioural indicators for both negative and positive mental experiences in wild animals.
Each species presents unique challenges, such as identifying individuals, evaluating mental experiences in large populations, and considering different environments and habitats. Dr Harvey's ground-breaking research holds immense potential in transforming the field of conservation biology, by shedding light on the mental experiences of wild and endangered animals.