Research to advance understanding of the ecology and biology of wildlife species is more important than ever as the world confronts issues ranging from biodiversity loss to the emergence of zoonotic diseases. However, the current understanding of animal welfare in research and education has been based on laboratory work with specific domesticated species. Wildlife research represents a starkly different context and with different implications for animal welfare. Wild species that are the subject of research have extremely diverse physiologies and behaviors and live in diverse habitats. This makes it challenging and sometimes impossible for wildlife researchers to follow the recommendations outlined in the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NRC 2011) and other guidelines developed for a laboratory-based, biomedically focused research context. To explore issues associated with the unique welfare considerations of wildlife research, the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (under the auspices of the Roundtable on Science and Animal Welfare in Laboratory Animal Use), hosted a workshop titled Discussing and Understanding Animal Welfare Challenges in Research and Education on Wildlife, Non-Model Animal Species, and Biodiversity on February 9-10, 2022. The event, held virtually, included pre-recorded presentations and overarching discussions to explore this topic in breadth and depth. More than 1,800 participants from academia, industry, government, and nonprofit organizations joined the webcast. This proceedings summarizes key topics covered in the workshop presentations and discussions based on transcripts, recordings, and slides from the event.

Contents

• The National Academies of SCIENCES • ENGINEERING • MEDICINE
• WORKSHOP PLANNING COMMITTEE ON DISCUSSING AND UNDERSTANDING ANIMAL WELFARE CHALLENGES IN RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ON WILDLIFE, NON-MODEL ANIMAL SPECIES AND BIODIVERSITY
• ROUNDTABLE ON SCIENCE AND WELFARE IN LABORATORY ANIMAL USE
• INSTITUTE FOR LABORATORY ANIMAL RESEARCH
• Reviewers
• Acknowledgments
• In Memory of
• Acronyms and Abbreviations
• Introduction
• Workshop Opening Remarks
• Session One: Perspectives on Animal Welfare Considerations Between Laboratory Animal and Free-Ranging Fish and Wildlife Field Research
  • INTRODUCTION TO WILDLIFE RESEARCH CHALLENGES AND ANIMAL WELFARE
  • NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION PERSPECTIVE
  • U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE PERSPECTIVE
  • NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH’S OFFICE OF LABORATORY ANIMAL WELFARE PERSPECTIVE
  • AAALAC INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: WILDLIFE STUDIES: BEYOND THE THREE PRIMARY STANDARDS
• Session Two (Part 1): Review of the Laws, Regulations, and Permits Associated with Fish and Wildlife
  • ANIMAL WELFARE CHALLENGES IN RESEARCH AND EDUCATION ON WILDLIFE: A NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM PERSPECTIVE
  • CHALLENGES FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE PERSPECTIVE
  • RESEARCH ON TRIBAL LANDS: UNIQUE EXAMPLES
• Session Two (Part 2): Case Studies and Examples
  • UNIQUE CHALLENGES WHEN WORKING WITH FREE-RANGING WILDLIFE: HUMMINGBIRDS AS A CASE STUDY
  • CONDUCTING BIODIVERSITY SURVEYS IN THE NEW AGE OF WILDLIFE DISCOVERY
  • FIELD RESEARCH INVOLVING REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS, REMOTE STUDY SITES, AND UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS
• Session Three: Wild Animal Population Concerns
  • CHALLENGES OF HIGH-RISK FIELDWORK AND WORKING WITH VENOMOUS AND HAZARDOUS SPECIES FOR IACUCs
  • STANDARDS OF PRACTICE FACILITATE RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT OF WHITE-NOSE SYNDROME IN BATS
  • ANIMAL WELFARE CHALLENGES IN RESEARCH ON AMPHIBIAN DISEASE ECOLOGY: IMPACTS ON NATURAL SYSTEMS, BIODIVERSITY, AND BIOSAFETY (PART 1)
  • ANIMAL WELFARE CHALLENGES IN RESEARCH ON AMPHIBIAN DISEASE ECOLOGY: IMPACTS ON NATURAL SYSTEMS, BIODIVERSITY, AND BIOSAFETY (PART 2)
  • A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INHERENT ASPECTS OF RISK MANAGEMENT IN THE CONTEXT OF WILDLIFE ANIMAL USE ACTIVITIES
• Day One Synthesis Session
  • SESSION ONE SYNTHESIS: PERSPECTIVES ON ANIMAL WELFARE CONSIDERATIONS BETWEEN LABORATORY ANIMAL AND FREE-RANGING FISH AND WILDLIFE FIELD RESEARCH
  • SESSION TWO SYNTHESIS: REVIEW OF THE LAWS, REGULATIONS, AND PERMITS ASSOCIATED WITH FISH AND WILDLIFE AND CASE STUDIES AND EXAMPLES
  • SESSION THREE SYNTHESIS: WILD ANIMAL POPULATION CONCERNS
• Session Four: Restraint and Handling of Animals in the Field to Include the Use of Compounds for Capture and Handling
  • EXTRA-LABEL DRUG USE IN FREE-RANGING WILDLIFE: RULES, REGULATIONS, AND REALITY
  • THE USE OF PHARMACEUTICAL AGENTS IN CARNIVORES, BEARS, AND UNGULATES WITHIN A WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AGENCY (REALITY AND CHALLENGES)
  • A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO THE COMPLEXITIES OF WORKING WITH MULTIPLE AGENCIES TO CONDUCT WILDLIFE ANIMAL USE ACTIVITIES
  • CHALLENGES IN THE CAPTURE AND HANDLING OF WILD BIRDS IN RESEARCH
  • CAPTURE AND HANDLING OF FREE-LIVING WILD SMALL MAMMALS FOR RESEARCH AND EDUCATION
• Session Five: Role of Veterinary Medicine in Wildlife Research
  • THE WILDLIFE VETERINARIAN’S ROLE IN CHAMPIONING ANIMAL WELFARE PROGRAMS AND POLICIES
  • UNDERSTANDING, RESPECTING, AND ENHANCING THE ROLE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE IN WILDLIFE RESEARCH: A WILDLIFE BIOLOGIST’S PERSPECTIVE
  • UNDERSTANDING, ACCEPTING, AND ENHANCING THE ROLE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE IN WILDLIFE RESEARCH: A WILDLIFE VETERINARIAN’S PERSPECTIVE
  • SURGERIES IN THE FIELD
• Session Six: Pain and Distress, Euthanasia, Humane Killing, and Lethal Take
  • AVMA PERSPECTIVE ON ENDING THE LIVES OF WILDLIFE SPECIES
  • CHALLENGES IN HUMANE KILLING OF WILD BIRDS AS MUSEUM VOUCHERS SUPPORTING BIODIVERSITY RESEARCH
  • CONTEXT-DEPENDENT CHALLENGES AND DECISIONS FOR THE HUMANE KILLING OF WILD SMALL MAMMALS
  • CHALLENGES IN FOLLOWING EUTHANASIA GUIDELINES IN MARINE FISHERIES SAMPLING
• Session Seven: Transition of Wild Animals to Captive Settings and Housing Challenges
  • ESTABLISHING CAPTIVE POPULATIONS OF WILD ANIMALS: COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR IACUC
  • CHALLENGES OF WILDLIFE ADJUSTING TO CAPTIVITY: NEGOTIATING WITH THE IACUC
  • COMPLIANCE CHALLENGES FOR CAPTURING, TRANSFERRING, AND KEEPING WILD BATS IN CAPTIVITY FOR RESEARCH AND TEACHING
• Session Eight: Available Take-Home Resources
  • CONSIDERATIONS FOR IACUCS
  • ADDITIONAL CHALLENGES
  • FINAL THOUGHTS
• Day Two Synthesis Session
  • SESSION FOUR SYNTHESIS: RESTRAINT AND HANDLING OF ANIMALS IN THE FIELD TO INCLUDE USE OF COMPOUNDS FOR CAPTURE AND HANDLING
  • SESSION FIVE SYNTHESIS: ROLE OF VETERINARY MEDICINE IN WILDLIFE RESEARCH
  • SESSION SIX SYNTHESIS: PAIN AND DISTRESS, EUTHANASIA, HUMANE KILLING, AND LETHAL TAKE
  • SESSION SEVEN SYNTHESIS: TRANSITION OF WILD ANIMALS TO CAPTIVE SETTINGS AND HOUSING CHALLENGES
  • SESSION EIGHT SYNTHESIS: AVAILABLE TAKE-HOME RESOURCES
• References
• Appendix A. Statement of Task
• Appendix B. Workshop Agenda
• Appendix C. Workshop Speaker Biosketches
• Appendix D. Workshop Planning Committee Biosketches
• Appendix E. Workshop Synthesis Session Moderator Biosketches

Suggested citation:

National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2022.Animal Welfare Challenges in Research and Education on Wildlife, Non-Model Animal Species and Biodiversity: Proceedings of a Workshop. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/26614.

Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.17226/26614

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