But when you work in the animal care industry, you know: good animal care is highly skilled.

It’s literally a science.

And while yes, we do deal with a fair amount of cleaning up after the animals, the true role of a modern animal caretaker is so much more than that…

Many animal care professionals are highly skilled. Many go college or university and have degrees in biology or animal science. Many animal care staff even have Masters degrees in wildlife conservation, welfare or similar.

But the ability to study in further education is a privilege that not everyone is able to pursue. I’m lucky that I could take out a student loan to pay for my education (which I will probably be paying off until I am 107 years old). But not everyone has that same opportunity. And it is not the be-all and end-all!

I know many incredibly talented animal care professionals who have qualifications in something completely unrelated to animals, and many more who don’t have any further education qualifications at all…

What makes a good keeper isn’t what qualifications are listed on your CV or how many years of experience you have worked. None of that guarantees anything, really;

Many years of experience doesn’t equal good experience. One million certificates are no guarantee that you are actually good at the job in the real world.

The mark of a good animal care professional is an open mind, a willingness to keep learning, and a willingness to share knowledge with others.

Nobody knows everything. And the more you know, the more you know you don’t know.

But it’s our job to do the best for the animals we care for - because our quality of work is (literally) their quality of life. We work for them. Essentially, they are our boss.

And the animal industry is constantly changing and progressing - in fact, animal welfare is a pretty new science! We’re constantly learning more about how animals experience their lives, and what exact needs different species require when they live under human care and management.

That’s the exciting part. We’re constantly understanding more and more, but it’s also our responsibility to keep up with those advances and apply them to our work.

Just because things are done a certain way, or have been a certain way for how-ever-long doesn’t mean it can’t be better. We must be open to doing better or doing things differently! We must always put the animals before our own feeling,s or egos. They’re our bosses, remember… we work for them!

One of the latest advances in the field is the concept of evidence-based welfare assessments which is a now strict requirement for accredited modern zoos and aquariums.

I’ll dive deeper into welfare assessments in my next Welfare Wednesday instalment - but today I wanted to chat about the role of record keeping, and what sort of information we should be recording daily to monitor health over time.

Records can play a role in breeding management, genetic diversity tracking, reintroduction programmes and welfare monitoring as well as daily animal management. They are a key source of evidence when they are meaningful!

Record keeping is an essential tool to help with the management of animals in captivity - it can facilitate accurate data and support good standards of care. It’s one of the tools in our professional tool-belt (so to speak), right along side our zip ties, and a multi-tool.

Recording observations can help us easily identify a concern before it escalates into a bigger issue. Records helps us track changes over time. They help give an insight into what our animals are experiencing, how they spend their time and what care was provided to them on any given day.

And it’s animal care staff who have all of that knowledge! They are the ones on the ground providing care. Caretakers are usually the first people to notice when something is off. That’s a really incredible skill to have!

But recording that information is absolutely vital. And ensuring that these records can be accessible (and meaningful) to all care staff, team leaders, vets etc. is even more vital.

Luckily there are some fabulous record keeping software and technologies available that can help us with that! From Animal Care Software (a personal favourite of mine), to ZIMS, and Tracks.

But what should we record?

The knowledge and understanding which animal care staff have in regards to the species (and the individuals) within their care is vital in maintaining good animal health and welfare. Simply put - we need to ‘know our animals.’

Carrying out daily visual health and behaviour observations forms an integral part of this ongoing knowledge and understanding! This should be part of our daily routine.

A visual health check allows for abnormalities in health or behaviour to be promptly identified, reported and any relevant action taken. This will help to ensure consistently good animal welfare. If the animal is trained to voluntarily sit on scales, weighing that animal weekly or monthly can help in early identification of health problems and give a good indication of physical fitness. Recording that in a central location helps track changes over time and allows other staff to access and monitor.

Being proactive is key here! It’s important that we don’t do a health check only when we think there may be a problem, but instead assess each animal daily to help identify early warning signs. As an animal carer, it is important that you can recognise and observe good health and welfare signs in your animals. These include:

• A bright, alert animal that reacts to new or unexpected stimuli.

• Good physical condition of the animal.

• Absence of pain, disease, trauma or distress.

• Development and expression of natural behaviours.

• Normal levels of growth, development, reproduction and life expectancy. Active interaction with environment and normal behaviours (e.g. rest and play).

  

Observation is an important skill!

Sometimes it is very obvious if an animal is unhealthy, but at other times an animal will try to hide that it is sick. Showing illness in the wild would put them at risk of predation or competition. Animals have evolved to hide pain and sickness very well. So signs might only be obvious when it is already serious.

It’s important to know our animals so we can easily and quickly spot any changes in behaviour that may indicate poor health. Animals will have minor injuries from time to time, but it's important to be able to recognise when to act on them. We can do this by paying close attention to animals behaviour and activity levels, and investigating any changes in behaviour which may be associated with pain.

Acute pain – is short-term pain, usually in response to an injury or surgery. This pain is more easily seen as we may see the injury, or notice a specific sign such as sudden lameness.

Chronic pain – is long-term pain which often develops slowly over time and can be difficult to detect as the animal may modify its behaviour to ‘mask’ or hide the pain. It is associated with degenerative health problems like osteoarthritis, dental disease, ocular or skin disease.

Different species will show that they are sick or unwell in different ways.

For example, a social animal may stop interacting with others in a group and could be subject to bullying.

It is important that you know your animals and can tell if they are not acting normally. If an animal in your care is displaying any of these signs, you should inform your vet team (and other leadership!) right away.

Recognising Pain - What to look for?

• Lethargy, excessive sleeping or depression.

• Injury such as lameness or abrasions.

• Vomiting.

• Unusual levels of aggression.

• Reduced social interaction in a normally social species.

• Social conflict.

• Hiding for extensive periods of time.

• Over-grooming (may have parasites).

• Reduced appetite.

• Abnormal repetitive behaviours.

  

The Daily Visual Health Checks - A Checklist for Care Staff

EYES - Are they clear, bright, free from secretion and reactive to the environment?

EARS & NOSE - Are they free from secretion and clear of debris e.g. skin sheds in reptiles. Are ear tags still present (if used)? Is there any sign of injury? Has the position of the ear changed which might indicate pain?

MOUTH/TEETH/BEAK - Are there any sores on the mouth, broken teeth, or an overgrown, damaged or injured beak? Are there signs of pain whilst eating?

HOOVES/CLAWS/HORNS -Are they overgrown, damaged, cracked or impeding movement? Do they need trimming/shaping or the addition of objects or substrates to help wear them down in the enclosure?

MOVEMENT - Is the animal moving and behaving normally? Is there a limp or change in gait? Is the animal showing signs of pain when moving or reluctance when weight-bearing on a particular limb?

COAT/SKIN/FEATHER/SCALES - Is the coat shiny, even and parasite-free? Do feathers look smooth and uniform? Are there any scales out of place or retained scales from sheds? Are there any growths, scratches or other signs of injury? Is there any damage to fins, tentacles or antenna?

BODY CONDITION - Does the muscle definition and general physical status of the body look normal and healthy?

HINDQUARTERS/FAECES - Is the back end clear from parasites and clean of faecal matter? Do the faeces look normal and well formed?

Whilst cleaning it up, it's a good idea to check that it looks normal in colour and consistency. Changes could indicate a health or nutrition problem that should be investigated and a potential dietary changes made. Fecal Score Charts can help with this - Check NAG for a chart for the animal you care for!

There will never be ‘nothing to report’

The quality of the information we record is critical. And the care we provide is important! Daily reports aren’t just a ‘box to tick’. Using vague notes like “all animals are fine or all good” doesn’t actually give us any information. In 6-months time it won’t give us any insight into the animal’ life or what happened that day. It doesn’t provide evidence of behaviour or health monitoring or changes which may be asked in an evidence-based welfare assessment.

It’s important that our reports are meaningful and reflect what we do and what we observe…

An example of ‘all fine/good day” could be:

*Animal species, & ID* is bright, alert and responsive. Habitat temperature was xy, observed resting at morning checks but active at xyz when blabla, Fecal quality was normal (score number 1), ate 90% of xyz diet, observed xyz behaviour, movement is normal, no signs of injury or illness, animal was calm/aggressive towards staff / animal, showed interested in xyz enrichment given at 1pm, interacted for 10 minutes. observed breeding behaviour xyz details between xyz & xyz, xyz medicine given to xyz at 11am, weight is xxkg, body condition is xyz,, fed xyz at 7am, 1pm, 5pm” - lots clear, useful of information here that can be monitored over time and shows evidence of health monitoring before a problem arises!

Have I missed anything? what else could be recorded?

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Never underestimate the importance of what you see when you work with animals!

Simple observations and knowing specific species’ needs, individual needs and individual animal’s behaviour can help us to quickly identify whether an animal is in pain, poor health or suffering. Visual health checks should be part of our everyday care routines and records should be detailed and meaningful.

Because good care and husbandry is more than cleaning.

It’s a skill. It’s a science.

And it is a super power for proactive welfare monitoring.

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For years, it has been an incredibly successful tactic, convincing well-meaning customers that they are buying something that is earth-friendly or more ecologically responsible.

And as consumers, most of us want to choose the option that causes the least harm. Many of us are even willing to pay more for that peace of mind. It’s luxury that is a privilege in itself, I suppose.

Unfortunately, these buzzwords and eco-labels often exist not out of genuine environmental concern, but as a tactic to boost sales for the well-meaning consumer. And I don’t know about you, but I have personally been caught out by this many, many times. In fact, here are a few examples of greenwashing from 2025 alone.

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But what if I told you that this same concept has emerged in the animal industry?

Over the past year, concern for the treatment of farm animals has grown significantly.

People are questioning where our food comes from and the lives they live before they reach our supermarkets or tables.

And in response, some companies have turned to “welfare washing.”

I’m sure you have seen it yourself, and maybe not recognised it before now. In fact, the psychology behind the impact of subconscious marketing and consumer choices is really quite fascinating! But, I digress.

I guarantee - once you recognise it, it becomes impossible to un-see.

Adding idyllic imagery like the classic green fields or wide open spaces, and comforting words like “happy hens” to food packaging, portrays animals as living in conditions that are often far better than the reality. And makes us feel like we’re choosing to support farms or supermarkets that prioritise good animal welfare.

Unfortunately, this isn’t always the reality.

And if we’re not careful, welfare washing could become just as widespread and just as destructive in the wildlife tourism industry.

Last year, Wild Welfare recently published an article highlighting exactly this issue. At a civet coffee farm in Indonesia (you can read more about this terrible practice here), the owners displayed signage promoting the Five Freedoms of animal welfare - a somewhat outdated framework focused on reducing negative welfare states such as hunger, fear, and pain.

Yet, although they stated that they followed the Five Freedoms - and probably fooled many well-intentioned tourists - their practices evidently showed quite the opposite.

The civets at this farm were kept in cramped, barren cages. Likely wild-caught using traumatic methods like snare trapping. They were fed nothing but coffee cherries and exhibited frantic, repetitive pacing-an unmistakable sign of psychological distress and a lack of coping with their restrictive and inappropriate environment.

Despite the clear suffering and exploitation, the presence of this welfare signage suggested (at the very least) an awareness of the concept, even as the animals’ actual conditions showed no evidence that the Five Freedoms were guiding their care.

Any visitor unfamiliar with welfare standards might easily be tricked into believing the farm was ethical or doing their best to provide good welfare.

And by paying to visit such a place, tourists are unintentionally supporting thje business of wildlife exploitation and suffering.

Welfare washing is fast becoming the next major hurdle in our fight for truly ethical tourism. A comforting statement about animal welfare on a sign or brochure might feel reassuring, but feelings aren’t enough. We need evidence.

We owe it to the animals to look beyond words and ask, “can you show me how you care for them?”

And here’s the hopeful part: every time we ask that question, every time we dig a little deeper, we push the industry to do better. Change doesn’t happen overnight, but it does happen when enough of us refuse to accept vague claims at face value.

Educated, conscious travellers have so much power!

One simple thing you can do? Before visiting any sanctuary, check whether it’s accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries.

Remember: just because its calls itself a ‘sanctuary’ - doesn’t necessarily mean that really is one. It could be a case of welfare washing.

Accreditation like this exists for a reason: it tells us that a facility meets strict, science-backed welfare standards, not just marketing promises to get you in the door.

Or better yet - travel with responsible and ethical tour companies

A company that I wholeheartedly support and would love to shine a spotlight on is the the wonderful Wildly Adventures!

Wildly Adventures Travel is a genuine, ethical, wildlife tour company that really prioritises ethical wildlife tourism and animal welfare, as well as supporting small, locally-run conservation projects and community programs.

Quite literally saving wildlife - one tour at a time!

Animals around the world are depending on us to pay attention. Now more than ever.

Welfare washing thrives in silence and assumptions of good intentions, but it crumbles under scrutiny. You have more influence than you realise. So challenge the claims. Demand transparency. Share what you learn. And choose experiences that truly protect and respect wildlife.

This is how you can drive change.

By creating a demand for responsible wildlife tourism and by choosing not to fund wildlife exploitation.

Say no to wild animal cafes - no matter how ‘cute’ it may look on tiktok - it’s just another form of advertising, after all. And remember that true sanctuaries don’t breed animals, they provide natural living environments and they don’t allow or encourage interaction between people and rescued animals. That means no petting, no rides, no feeding, and no bathing.

Ethical tourism isn’t a trend - it’s a movement that’s long overdue.

And it needs your voice, your curiosity, and your courage.

So, will you join us?

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And I wanted to talk about it.

Those of us who care for animals, whether that’s in a professional or a personal capacity, usually do it because we feel some sort of strong emotional connection towards them. Some of us even refer to it as a ‘calling’ or a vocation to care for and protect them.

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But animal care and welfare are are not the same thing.

Care is what animals are provided by us, the caretakers. Welfare is what the animal experiences as a result of that care.

We often talk about how the care provided can impact an animal’s ability to experience positive welfare states (read my previous article about affective states: here),

But Rose, Newnham and Hickey rightly question…

Animals will struggle with captive “care” when it’s inappropriate for their species needs. And we should be questioning if incorrect care can even be considered as care at all.

An easy example of this are Giraffe. They are obligate browsing ruminants - meaning they must eat browse to survive. In the wild they spend up to 20 hours of their time doing just that; eating foliage, leaves, buds, fruits, and flowers and stripping bark from trees and shrubs. Foraging and ruminating are behaviours that are essential for good physical and mental health. These are highly motivated behavioural needs.

However, if a zoo giraffe is fed primarily on supplemented browser pellets - which yes, may give the giraffe the nutrition they need - but doesn’t provide opportunities for their behavioural needs. Is this care?

In my opinion no.

Despite the challenges that come along with sourcing browse supplies, we need to be striving to provide more than the recommended 4kg of browse per animal - which equates to 25% of their estimated dietary intake. (To read more about the behavioural benefits of browse for giraffe, find the paper by Dr. Paul Rose here!)’

And so the question remains, if the husbandry and housing provided isn’t fit for purpose, are we actually caring for the animals?

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I have to agree with the authors - that real care is achieved by integrating a compassionate approach for both the animals and animal care staff and looking back at where we have come from and moving forwards together with the latest welfare science and species guidelines, (while aiming to surpass them and do better than the minimum).

The evolution of our understanding of animal welfare has been quite the journey, As shown by the beautiful chart above, from Harley & Clark (2019).

Originally, caring for animals meant reducing or removing any negative factors to prevent animal suffering (Animal Protection Act, Five Freedoms).

But now, caring is focussed on providing positive experiences and positive challenges (Five Domains).

Animals aren't expected to be (dis)stressed but the stress that they do experience (eustress - the ‘good’ kind) - should be beneficial for them to develop and become more behaviourally flexible and resilient.

Providing choice and control and appropriate challenges for animals under human care is essential for providing opportunities for comfort, pleasure and interest.

And this doesn’t just apply to zoo animals. '

But to any animal that has aspects of their lives controlled by us - the care taker.

From farm and production animals. Lab animals. Rescue centre or sanctuary animals. Even our pets. Good animal care isn‘t just about cleaning enclosures and feeding. It’s about creating opportunities for animals to experience positive welfare outcomes.

If we are able to view animal management decisions through the lens of what animal welfare actually is, animals will be afforded many more opportunities to thrive under human care. Not just to survive.

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It’s been a minute.

This newsletter may shed some light on why that is, exactly. And I know that many of you reading will probably relate.

Animal caregiving professions require a high degree of emotional and empathetic responsibility. Many of us have a strong sense of justice, and this is what makes us such good advocates. We feel a strong sense of duty to fight for what is right on their behalf. We can also carry guilt for those we cannot help.

But this empathy and responsibility comes at a price. And unfortunately, it’s all too common in the animal care industry.

Enter: compassion fatigue - often referred to as “the cost of caring.”

We literally care until it hurts.

While there’s a huge an emphasis on physical safety in animal care professions (i.e., avoidance of bites, kicks, injuries, infections, sharp objects, etc.), there is a real lack of training on mental health and how this can be impacted by working with and caring for animals

Compassion fatigue is a crisis in the world of animal welfare and wildlife conservation. But it can be managed.

In this article I’ll explain what CF is, some ways to protect your mental and emotional health and some of the resources out there to help you and your colleagues or loved ones.

So, let’s get into it!

What is compassion fatigue?

Compassion fatigue is also known as secondary traumatic stress or vicarious trauma. It is the physical and emotional exhaustion that may occur when you are working with animals or humans.

Being invested in animal welfare can give you compassion fatigue. If you are an extremely empathetic person, even news stories about animal suffering can be detrimental to your mental health.

Despite the terms often being used inter-changeably, compassion fatigue is different from burnout in that fatigue is tied to the empathy and care you give animals or people in distress, whereas burnout is generally linked to work-related stress and causes a gradual depletion of energy.

What are the symptoms?

Compassion fatigue is experienced in different ways depending on who you are, but there are many common symptoms including:

• Feeling overwhelmed and exhausted

• Trouble focussing and insomnia

• Reduced empathy or emotional numbness

• A sense of helplessness in the face of suffering

• Loss of interest in the activities that you enjoy

• Emotional detachment

• Anxiety & irritability

• Physical symptoms like migraines, headaches, nausea and vomiting.

For many people, these symptoms don’t just creep up - they hit like a tsunami, leaving them drowning in stress and doubt about whether they are making a difference.

The Four Stages of Compassion Fatigue

Like grief, compassion fatigue follows a pattern:

1. Zealot Phase: When someone first gets involved in animal welfare, they’re passionate, full of energy, and willing to put in long hours to make a difference. It’s an all-consuming mission.

2. Withdrawal Phase: The reality of the work sets in. The endless cycle of advocating for animals in need or welfare concerns that need action. Animals can become sick and may need euthanised. Animal populations may require culling as part of management plans. Heartbreaking cases and animal losses starts to wear down enthusiasm. Complaints about the work increase, and exhaustion kicks in.

3. Irritability Phase: The carer becomes frustrated, impatient, and less tolerant of others. Decision-making becomes harder, and interactions with people can become strained. A sense of bitterness can develop toward irresponsible pet owners, adopters who change their minds, or management who don’t support welfare initiatives.

4. Zombie Phase: The final stage of burnout. Rage, resentment, and detachment become the norm. There’s little patience for people, even fellow colleagues. At its worst, it can push people to quit, walk away, or fall into deep depression.

   

Coping with Compassion Fatigue

Compassion fatigue is a crisis in the world of animal welfare and conservation, but it can be managed. Here are some ways to protect your mental and emotional health:

• Recognise the Signs – Keep track of how you’re feeling week to week. Rate your stress level on a scale of 1-10 so you can see if it’s worsening.

• Set Boundaries – Know when to say no and protect your own well-being.

• Practice Self-Care – Get enough sleep, eat well, exercise, and engage in activities you enjoy. Are your Five Domains of welfare being met? Have you had any enrichment today?

• Seek Support – Whether it’s therapy, or just talking to a trusted friend or family member, don’t bottle up your feelings. Many therapists specialise in compassion fatigue and can offer guidance on managing symptoms and implementing coping strategies.

• Take Breaks – You don’t have to be in the trenches 24/7. Stepping away for even a short time can help you reset. Don’t work through lunch! If social media or the news is triggering you, then take time offline.

• Have friends outside of animal care – While having friends in animal care is important, you also need to make sure you have friends that can help you take a break from that world. You contain multitudes.

• Learn resilience – Resilience is how you are able to recover from a stressful situation. Some people learn resilience easily, and with others, it takes time. Being resilient to the negative emotions and situations that you face can help you better learn how to manage them.

• Find Joy – Spend time with the animals you work with. Take a few extra minutes to bond with or watch them interact with enrichment. Remember why you do what you do. What would your eight year-old-self think of you? Celebrate the victories, no matter how small - for me personally, I made a “welfare wins” noticeboard to display photos of care staff and their welfare wins. I also write down every welfare win no matter how small, and put it into a “glimmer jar” so I can look back on the differences I have made, when I need a reminder.

Compassion fatigue is a very real and challenging aspect of animal work; but with awareness, prevention strategies, and professional support, it can be managed. Recognising it is the first step toward healing. Acknowledge your feelings and understand that they are a normal response to the challenges of animal care work.

We care so immensely about the mental and emotional experiences of animals, but we often forget that our own affective states are just as important!

Remember, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Looking after ourselves makes us a better caretaker and advocate. Your job, while important, is just that - a job; make sure you have a life outside of it. You are more than what you do for work.

An most importantly, be kind to yourself.

Share this with someone who may need a reminder to prioritise their own welfare.

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Free Resources

If you, a colleague, or a loved one is struggling with compassion fatigue, you are not alone and there are resources out there to help you cope and build resilience.

Organisations like GRAZE have developed some brilliant training virtual workshops to help animal care staff and teams to develop resilience, as well as free virtual support groups. Find these here!

Free course: Caring for yourself & others: Preventing compassion fatigue & burnout.

COAPE: https://coape.org/compassion-fatigue-in-animal-workers/

If you have personally experienced compassion fatigue, I would love it if you would share how you overcame it or protect yourself against it. Your words and advice could help someone else.

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For centuries, fish have been seen by us as cold, silent, and unfeeling creatures. But is this perception really accurate? Compared to mammals, fish are rarely treated with the same level of compassion or welfare.

Maybe it’s because they look and behave so differently, their habitat so foreign to us that it’s hard to imagine that they might have similar experiences and feeling to us. We struggle to relate. To empathise.

In welfare legislation, fish have little to no protection. And many people still believe that it’s more ethical to kill a fish than a farmed mammal.

In fact, the number of fish who die annually for food, surpasses that of any other vertebrate. Being slaughtered on such a mass scale that each unit of the chart below, represents one thousand fish. Mind blowing.

The question of whether fish feel pain is a complex one; leaving scientists divided and debating the topic for years. Until now.

So without further ado, lets dive into the science surrounding the debate.

Exhibit A - Fish anatomy

Some believe that fish can’t feel pain or experience suffering because of their physical differences to mammals, such as the lack of a neocortex - the area of the brain associated with higher mental functioning.

But, despite their differences to us, studies have shown that fish do have the anatomy necessary to produce pain, and it’s strikingly similar to our own.

Fish possess nociceptors, special nerve cells in their skin, fins, mouth and guts; similar to those that we have; which detect things that can cause hurt; - like cuts on skin, extreme temperatures, toxic chemicals and physical pressure. In fact, fish sensitivity to pressure is so heightened that it is compared to the human cornea – meaning that handling fish is probably very painful.

While nerves alone are not proof that fish experience pain, it does show that they have the necessary anatomical hardware.

These nerve cells send signals to the brain, triggering behavioural responses that are associated with pain in other animals.

Exhibit B - Behaviours that indicate pain

Scientists have observed that when fish are injured, their behaviour changes dramatically.

Injured fish have been observed to rub the injury area, their breathing accelerates, they lose their appetite and they learn to avoid places or objects they remember that hurt them. They show stress responses, similar to those seen in other species which indicate a negative affective (emotional) state.

When in pain, they become distracted and can’t perform other tasks or pay attention to outside factors; supporting evidence that fish do respond to pain in a cognitive sense.

And though it has been argued by some, these behaviours are not just reflexes. Scientists tried giving injured fish pain killers and with the pain gone, the fish started behaving normally again; suggesting that their nervous systems process pain.

So why do we treat them as if they don’t?

Now, here’s where things get murky

Pain is a subjective experience for us, as humans. We each experience pain differently, and the same can be said for other animals. However, measuring pain in other species is challenging.

While fish do show responses indicating pain, the exact nature and intensity of their experience is unclear.

The vast number of fish species makes generalising about pain experiences difficult. Different species may have varying levels of pain sensitivity and complex nervous systems requiring further study.

Regardless of species differences, ethically, we should be treating all fish as if they have the potential for pain. But this is rarely reflected in real life.

Some scientists argue that pain is an entirely emotional experience; completely separate from the process of detecting harmful stimuli, causing tissue damage. But pain evolved to increase the chances of survival, by reducing injuries.

Why should that mean that we should separate the emotional or mental response from the physical detection?

Science says: fish suffer for at least 10 minutes after catch

In a study published last year, scientists used the Welfare Footprint Framework, a rigorous, evidence-based way of measuring pain experienced (in minutes).

Scientists applied this framework to rainbow trout, a species farmed and consumed worldwide, when they were slaughtered by air exposure - a method that is widely used in fisheries and aquaculture.

The findings of this research are sobering.

When the fish were pulled from water, they began a slow and stressful death. Their gills collapsed. They gasped. Their blood chemistry spiralled. Oxygen disappeared while carbon dioxide built.

Researchers divided the trout’s suffering into four time segments, from alarm at removal to the final depression of brain activity before unconsciousness and discovered that each trout experienced 10 minutes of moderate to extreme pain during slaughter with the process; 56% of the trout lost consciousness within 20 minutes, however the remaining took even longer.

The results showed that the fish experienced not just death – but a prolonged and intense form of distress when killed in this way.

Stunning can help fish suffer less

The welfare of fish at the time of killing is at the centre of policy discussions at the moment. And with trillions of wild finfishes and billions of farmed finfish killed annually, the scale of potential welfare improvements is substantial.

And stunning could help.

Electrical and percussive stunning causes a faster loss of consciousness and therefore less suffering. But, to be considered humane, pre-slaughter handling must be minimised and the animal must become unconscious immediately and until death.

This study found that electrical stunning, could spare 60 to 1,200 minutes of suffering for every dollar invested, making it one of the most cost-effective welfare interventions known. But in many commercial settings, electrical stunning fails to reliably make fish unconscious. Poor placement of electrodes, inadequate voltage, or faulty machines can undermine the potential benefits.

Percussive stunning, however – by a physical blow to the head – has shown better consistency in lab settings, but is challenging to scale commercially. Fish vary in size, equipment needs to be precisely calibrated and worker fatigue can reduce the effectiveness, potentially leaving fish conscious while bleeding out.

70–100% effective stunning could potentially prevent 1 to 20 hours of moderate to extreme pain.

And despite the differences between our species, the evidence is clear; one thing we share in common is our ability to experience this. Dismissing it is no longer justifiable.

Welfare policies and slaughter standards must catch up to the science and balance animal welfare, economic and environmental considerations in fisheries and aquaculture.

🐟 Let minnow your thoughts in the comments 🐟

Feasts and fasts: the impact of feeding regimes on the activity budgets of zoo-housed jaguars Panthera onca

Feeding practices are critical for the welfare of zoo-housed carnivores, yet zoo diets often lack the complexity of natural prey, potentially reducing stimulation and increasing stereotypic behaviours.

Brunner et al., (2026) examined how different food items combined with a fasting regime influenced the behaviour and activity budgets of three jaguars Panthera onca over a period of eight weeks. Behaviours were recorded continuously based on an ethogram, and beta regression mixed-effects models were used for analysis.

Four feeding treatments were tested: featherless chicken, feathered chicken, beef meat without skin on bone (all with three feeding, four fasting days per week), whole sheep or goat carcasses (two feeding, five fasting days per week).

Findings showed that Whole carcasses elicited the longest feeding times (88±21 minutes), compared to meat on bone (58±23 minutes) and chicken (32±10 minutes feathered, 12±4 minutes featherless) on feeding days.

Large carcasses also encouraged unique behaviours such as food carrying, guarding, and manipulation, while providing intermittent feeding opportunities and possibly prolonged satiation. Although these differences were evident in feeding-related behaviours, overall activity budgets remained largely stable, and stereotypic pacing was not substantially affected by diet composition or fasting schedules.

These findings underscore the enrichment potential of whole carcasses in promoting natural behaviours and enhancing feeding engagement. Zoos may benefit from incorporating more varied and naturalistic feeding regimes to improve animal welfare.

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Body condition scoring of white Ceratotherium simum and black rhinoceros Diceros bicornis in European zoos

In zoo and wildlife medicine, regular evaluation of the physical body condition of animals under human care is recommended. For many health problems in rhinos weight loss and deterioration of body condition are among the earliest symptoms.

White Ceratotherium simum and black Diceros bicornis rhinos differ in ecology and sociality, which is reflected in their ease of care in zoos. Zoo-housed black rhinos are susceptible to unusual diseases, e.g. iron overload disorder and hypophosphatemia (a low level of phosphate in the blood), which have hypothetically been linked to obesity.

Sauspeter et al., (2026) applied published body condition scores (BCS; 1-5) to 84 adult white and 57 adult black rhinos living in 41 European zoos. The researchers established their own BCS protocol with overview scores and scores for individual body regions, based on their ability to distinguish scores on photographs, and related these to husbandry conditions. Exact body mass was available for 17 and 20 white and black rhinos, and was estimated for the rest. Scoring was conducted by a single observer, twice in a blinded manner.

Study Findings:

• BCS were generally positively correlated to body mass, but were not related to the percentage of non-forage feed in the individual diets.

• White rhinos had higher scores than black rhinos suggesting that obesity, if at all, is more common in white rhinos.

• BCS were relatively independent of age in white rhinos but declined in black rhinos with age, supporting concepts of chronic, accumulating health problems in black rhinos.

• In black rhinos, BCS were lower in animals with impaired dental status compared to animals without.

• In both species, males tended towards lower BCS compared to females.

• BCS had no effect on female black rhinos breeding status, but tentative evidence suggested that non-breeding white rhinos show higher BCS.

These findings do not support concepts that associate black rhino health problems with obesity, but emphasise the relevance of strategies for maintaining long-term health. In white rhinos, the provision of ad libitum forage is considered beneficial from a behavioural point of view, but forages of sufficiently low nutritional (but appropriate) quality should be chosen to prevent over-conditioning.

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Analysis of the nutritional components of Linnaeus’s two-toed sloth Choloepus didactylus diets in UK and Irish zoos

Two-toed sloths (Choloepus spp.) is one of six extant sloth species native to South America and currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Redlist. These animals are commonly kept in zoological collections to promote conservation efforts for this species and their natural habitat.

Two-toed sloths are poorly studied folivores and currently lack species-specific research on the nutritional composition of their diet in the wild. Some studies have been published on zoo diets; however, direct comparison between collections is not common in the literature.

Wash et al., (2026) performed a nutritional assessment on nine zoo diets of Choloepus didactylus from eight zoos across the UK and Ireland. Diets were compared against one another to test if there were significant differences in the nutrient content between collections.

Zootrition™ was used to determine the nutritional content of each diet. Analysis focused on average dietary provision per sloth for the following nutrients: crude protein (CP), crude fibre (CF), Neutral detergent fibre (NDF), Acid detergent fibre (ADF), calcium (Ca), phosphorous (P) and nitrogen-free extract (NFE), which is an estimate of the easily digestible carbohydrates.

Study Findings:

• Variations in the quantity of food provided per sloth as well as differences in the nutritional composition of diets between collections.

• Browse is recommended for this species; however, only five out of nine diets (56%) included browse.

• Compared to recent recommendations, all diets exceeded the minimum protein content recommended.

• Fibre contents were lower than recommended. This may be due to limited browse and leafy vegetable provision in some of the diets.

• Browse is recommended for this species because it improves digestive health, increases overall NDF levels in the diets and reduces the NFE content.

The findings from this study highlight the importance of further nutritional research and consideration of published guidelines to improve the health and welfare of C. didactylus in zoos.

A study by Miller and Machado (2026) investigated whether the stereotypic behaviour of two polar bears (Ursus maritimus) at Brookfield Zoo Chicago was heterogenous in nature. Data were collected at four different times, throughout an approximate one-year period.

What are stereotypic behaviours? These are repetitive behaviours that have no obvious goal or function. They are thought to occur either due to current environment or central nervous system dysfunction and are behaviours that are looked upon unfavourably by zoo visitors. In zoos polar bears are quite prone to stereotypic behaviour, with 85.4% of the 55 polar bears observed engaged in some form of stereotypic behaviour.

What does ‘heterogenous’ even mean? Well, it means that if the stereotypic behaviours are heterogenous in nature, they would have different triggers or motivations. Whereas, if they were considered ‘homogenous’ multiple forms would have the same trigger or motivation.

This study focused on two stereotypic behaviours; pacing (locomoting the same path at least 3 times on land or in water) and route tracing ( locomoting a circular path at least twice in any gait pattern). The two behaviours were mutually exclusive and recorded using Zoo Monitor. Heat maps were generated to show locations where stereotypic behaviour occurs.

This study found that pacing behaviour typically occurred in locations best suited to watch for animal care staff who provide food and enrichment. However, the motivation or the root cause for the route tracing behaviour is less clear.

The main location the male engaged in route tracing was near a window where the female could be visually observed but not physically interacted with during the spring, which is the breeding season.

This results of this study suggests that stereotypic behaviour in polar bears may be heterogenous in nature and that different individuals may have different motivations or triggers. The fact that stereotypic behaviours may be heterogenous in nature suggests that future studies with polar bears should make sure to not combine these behaviours into one category, but to score them independently. Only through continued research will the likely heterogenous nature of stereotypic behaviour in polar bears and their potential root causes be better understood.

Further examination of the heterogeneous nature of stereotypic behaviour in other species to focus on the continuous improvement in zoo animal welfare.

Nutritional insights into octopus diets in aquaria

Nutrition is one of the four functional domains (Nutrition, Environment, Health and Behaviour) of the Five Domains Model which help inform us about an animal’s various experiences, which make up the fifth domain, the Mental Domain. However, nutrition is not as well studied as other domains for aquarium species, as historically the importance of diet and nutritional research focuses on large charismatic mammals.

A study by Hunt et al., (2026) identified a gap in research into nutritional requirements of the Common octopus (Octopus vulgaris), a popular species exhibited in aquaria. While aquaculture research often focuses on maximising yield and growth rates, this is not necessarily conducive to long-term welfare; with faster growth rates in fish linked to a reduction in locomotory performance.

This study investigated the diet ingredients for 17 common octopus, housed in aquaria in Europe. Nutritional analyses of these items were undertaken, including protein, fat, energy and a range of minerals to produce profiles of each animal’s weekly diet

Findings showed that all but one collection fed a mixture of fish and marine invertebrates with shore crabs being the most provided item followed by molluscs (mussels and clams), mimicking the natural diet. Octopus were fed between 3 and 7 times per week. All of the diets had protein levels above 50 % (in dry matter, DM) and many of the diets (59 %) had protein levels of over 60 % DM, which is expected as protein is the main macronutrient for octopus. Fat levels were variable between collections with most diets being higher in fats than recommended.

This study highlights the variation in diets provided to common octopus in European aquaria. This variation leads to large differences in the amount of protein and energy each octopus was receiving, while there is so far no indication that this variation affects individual animal welfare. Further research on the impact of these diets on growth, development and longevity would be beneficial in developing recommendations for octopus diets.

Exploring dietary practices and faecal consistency in zoo-housed cotton-top tamarins Oedipomidas oedipus

Ensuring optimal welfare and health of remains challenging for callitrichids, particularly in terms of nutritional management, due to inherent issues observed in callitrichid species under human care, such as their predisposition to chronic digestive disorders such as wasting marmoset syndrome.

A study by Beltrán Urrego et al., (2026) evaluated the fecal consistency in critically endangered cotton-top tamarins and investigated its association with different dietary regimes. A survey was conducted across 10 zoological institutions, encompassing 69 individuals, to collect data on dietary practices and faecal consistency. Faecal evaluation was assessed using a scale from 1 (solid) to 6 (watery), based on appearance and texture.

A comparative analysis of institutional diets was performed based on the proportions of food groups offered, including cultivated fruits, vegetables, commercial foods, animal protein, supplements, and exudates, such as gums. These proportions were then analysed in relation to faecal scores. In addition, individual body weights were evaluated in relation to the amount of food provided at each institution.

Feeding regime is closely linked to gastrointestinal health and faecal condition in cotton-top tamarins. This study found a positive correlation was found between fruit inclusion levels and higher faecal score. Variations in body weight were observed among institutions, with lower average weights recorded in females where food quantities were reduced. A standardised faecal scoring system was developed to support health monitoring and animal management protocols.

Finally, further research is needed to better understand the nutritional and physiological requirements of cotton-top tamarins, as well as to develop practical tools for assessing digestive health.

Why Welfare Matters started as a passion project to connect with others who care about animals, science, and evidence-based approaches to improving animal welfare.

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Civet coffee. Kopi Luwak. Weasel coffee. Cà Phê Chồn. Cat Poop Coffee. Cat-poo-chino.

Call it what you want—it was absolutely everywhere!

From busy souvenir stalls in Ho Chi Minh and Hanoi, to the airport duty-free displays in the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam. It was even the gift shops we passed through on our bus-tour bathroom breaks.

This so called, “rare,” “luxury” coffee was absolutely everywhere.

Seeing it on such a mass scale was quite shocking. It was stark evidence of an epidemic of cruelty and exploitation, marketed as a once-in-a-lifetime luxury souvenir.

And it made me wonder—how many people are buying this coffee as a gift to take home for their family and friends? How many people are ordering this in cafes and unknowingly supporting unspeakable cruelty? How many tourists are booking tours of civet coffee plantations? And how many Civets are suffering to supply the demand of consumers?

It was a harsh reminder that while those of us “in the know” are aware of the rising welfare concerns surrounding civet coffee, the average tourist, sadly, is not.

The Bitter Truth about Civet Coffee

Popularly known as “weasel coffee” or “cà phê chồn” (in Vietnam) and “kopi luwak” (in Indonesia), this coffee has been partially digested by the civets, a small, nocturnal and solitary carnivore from the Viverridae family, native to Southeast Asia.

Despite being listed as ‘Least Concern’ by the IUCN Redlist, civet populations are declining fast due to the rising demand for civet coffee.

Civets are opportunistic omnivores; eating a varied diet in the wild, consisting of small vertebrates, insects, eggs, vegetation, and fruit, occasionally enjoying coffee cherries too.

After digesting the cherries, coffee beans are excreted as indigestible waste. This is really just a fancy way of saying that the civets poop out the beans. These beans were foraged from the forests by locals, then cleaned, sun-dried, and roasted before being brewed into coffee.

However, lucrative demand for this “rare” coffee has led to this process being intensified across Asia; relying on the capture, caging, and force feeding of civets.

Civet coffee is marketed as the most rare coffee in the world with it’s popularity driven by tourists who want try this unique drink, and of course, share their experiences on social media.

Unfortunately, this means that civet coffee plantations have now become popular tourist attractions.

However, each scenic Instagram post or TikTok video hides an ugly reality.

While the tourists who visit these plantations and are guided through the process of harvesting the beans from civet droppings, and are led to believe that the civets have been rescued, will be released back to the wild after a brief stay, or are well cared for.

This truth is a very different story.

The True Cost of the World’s Most Expensive Coffee

The civet coffee industry is a lucrative form of wildlife trafficking and exploitation.

The civets in these coffee plantations are wild animals, that have been caught by snare traps to supply the industry. Since snares are cheap and easy to make, there are often many littered across forest floors, yielding high rewards for poachers.

Snare traps don’t discriminate. They threaten all wildlife, including critically endangered species.

Animals that are caught in snares struggle for hours trying to escape, often biting into the into their own bodies to free themselves, before dying of exhaustion.

And the sad reality is, that for every civet that has been caught and caged for coffee production, many more animals have likely died due to snare trapping.

Petition to End Civet Coffee

Poor Welfare leaves a Bitter Taste

After capture, these nocturnal animals are forced to live in stacks of small, barren cages, enduring constant stress from light and noise. As a naturally solitary species, housing close to other civets like this causes extreme stress, leading to a poor immune system and early death. Even the most basic needs of these complex animals cannot be met in such poor conditions.

These cages are built for easy farming and not with the animals in mind, with wire mesh flooring to allow faeces to drop through to a tray below. However this causes abrasions and injuries to the animals, which are likely left untreated.

In the wild, civets spend a significant amount of time foraging for food and exploring lots of places in their environment to find it. Civets are highly motivated to search for food, even when they live under human care.

However, to maximise coffee production, most civets are fed almost entirely on coffee cherries, causing caffeine toxicity. Many die from caffeine over-consumption, infected wounds, disease, and chronic stress.

Some civets are released once they start defecating blood; only to be re-captured again if they recover.

The lack of opportunities to perform their natural behaviours, lack of bedding, privacy, and poor nutrition often causes stereotypic pacing and self-mutilation (self-harming) behaviours; Behavioural indicators of the civets attempting to mentally cope with their stressful environment.

But don’t worry you can help them!

Petition to End Civet Coffee

There is a Latte you can do!

While this is a heavy topic, hope is not lost. As a consumer and a tourist you have SO much power to influence the supply and demand of civet coffee and the popularity of coffee plantation tourism. The easiest thing you can do is talk about it! Conversation and awareness are huge drivers of change, so have a chat about the plight of civets the next time you grab a coffee with your pals!

Here are a few other things that you can do to help:

• Don’t buy civet coffee. No matter how “authentic” or “humane” the marketing sounds. This is likely welfare washing marketing tactics. There is no licensing to guarantee that it has been ethically sourced.

• Talk to your friends. Most tourists simply don’t know! A gentle explanation can go a long way to helping others make ethical choices when travelling.

• Don’t engage on Social Media. Avoid liking, sharing or commenting on content that encourages people to visit coffee plantations. Even negative comments help it to reach more people.

• Support ethical wildlife tourism. Don’t blindly follow social media hypes, do your research and choose experiences that promote conservation and respect natural animal behaviour. If in doubt, leave it out (of your travel itinerary!)

Enjoyed this article?

Ex-presso yourself in the comments! ☕

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The newly announced Jane Goodall Day, on April 3rd, is about the everyday actions that build a better future. Whether this means volunteering locally, starting a community project, or sharing a story about how Jane inspired you.

This is how Jane inspired me.

Sixty-five years ago, a young woman arrived in the forests of Gombe and changed the world’s understanding of animal behaviour. Today, the world mourns her loss.

Like so many wildlife conservationists, I idolised Dr Jane Goodall.

Growing up, I wanted nothing more than to be her.

I imagined exploring the forests of Gombe as she had, living among animals that no one else understood. Connecting with them on a level that seemed almost magical. I often daydreamed about becoming a famous scientist and dedicating my life to saving endangered species.

But most of all, I wanted to make a difference in the world - just like Jane did.

Dr Jane Goodall passed away peacefully in her sleep at the age of 91 while on a speaking tour in California. Until her very last moment, she championed her message of hope and positive change for the future of our planet. She was and will continue to be one of the most influential voices of conservation.

They say that grief is the last great act of love. Together, the world is united in grief for a loss so profound that there are no words to quite do it justice.

While I may never live in the forest and study wild Chimpanzees, I am proud to admit that Dr Jane Goodall had a monumental influence on my life. She inspired me to pursue a career in wildlife conservation, advocating for the welfare of endangered species ex situ.

As a young girl living in rural Ireland, I may as well have proclaimed that I wanted to be an astronaut or a famous pop star when I grew up. It wasn’t seen as a conventional ‘normal’ career choice, and the chances of succeeding were slim - but it was my dream.

And I held on to it like Jane held on to hers.

Jane taught me not to give up in the face of adversity.

I even wrote about her in my university application essay. So, you can imagine what a full-circle moment it was to have the opportunity to attend her talk, “Pollination for Change”, to meet the legend herself when she visited Dubai in January of last year.

My childhood dreams came true when I was able to speak with her and tell her that I am who I am because of her; that she had inspired the trajectory of my life.

To say that I was star-struck was an understatement. When she shook my hand, I had to employ some serious self-control techniques just to avoid spontaneous combustion into a puddle of tears.

Now with her passing, I’m immensely grateful that I had the opportunity to tell her just how much of an impact she had on me, fundamentally. She kindly signed my (well-loved) copy of her book “Hope for Animals and Their World: How Endangered Species Are Being Rescued from the Brink,” and conspiratorially told me that it was one of her favourites, to which I shared that it was mine too.

I will treasure the privilege of meeting her for as long as I live.

And even though she’s no longer with us, I still feel incredibly hopeful. While the forest has lost a beautiful tree, from its seeds have sprouted many others. It’s up to us, those who have been inspired by her messages, to carry on her work.

Her legacy lives on in every piece of nature that is preserved, in every animal that is protected and every mind that is awakened to the wonder of the natural world.

As she once said, “You cannot go through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of a difference you want to make.”

Jane taught us that our actions matter, no matter how small or insignificant they may seem in the face of things.

Together, we can make our world a better place for the wondrous species that share this beautiful planet with us.

To me, Jane will always be a symbol of hope.

And hope never dies.

“What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” - Jane Goodall

Here are some ways that you can celebrate Jane Goodall Day:

• Share a story about how Jane Goodall inspired you in the comments & on social media using #JaneGoodallDay.

• Share this article so others can find it.

• Plant a tree or plants for native pollinator species.

• Participate in community clean-ups or beach cleans.

• Add a bug hotel or bee watering station to your garden.

• Donate to a cause you believe in.

• Advocate for animal welfare.

• Choose a plant-based meal.

• Get involved in any way that makes you feel connected to Jane.

• Donate to Jane Goodall Institute (all donations will be matched between now and April 3, 2026)

I would love to know how you plan to celebrate! Drop a comment below…

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This article was previously published by The Climate Tribe.

But the zoo industry is cut throat. Universities churn out hundreds of students each year. Graduating from courses like zoology, zoo biology, animal biology, animal behaviour, wildlife conservation… and that’s just a handful of the variations.

To become a zoo keeper, you need to be competitive and stand out among the hundreds of other applicants. And in order to get your foot in the door, you need to get as much experience as possible within the animal care industry.

And that means internships and hours of volunteering. Most, if not all of it, unpaid.

Where I lived in Ireland, there were no zoos offering internships (at the time), so I had to look further afield. In England, I volunteered in zoos across the country during university holiday breaks. I sacrificed time with my family (and potential paid work opportunities), to gain an inch of experience. I felt like this was some sort of badge of honour. Like it would show future employers just how badly I wanted to work in the industry. The reality was though, my sporadic volunteering could never compete with a year-long internship.

While studying, I travelled to a zoo for a three-day unpaid work trial in the hopes of winning one of two highly coveted spots for a industry placement year, before my final year at university. I was ecstatic when I got that spot! It felt like my dreams had come true and my career was set!

During the trial, one of the keepers on the team had asked me about my family background, what my parents did for work. I thought it was idle chit-chat until he asked how I would afford a year long placement. I told him that I had a job as a waitress and was saving money. But I specifically remember being really confused about how my family related to my ability to do the internship.

I was quite naive back then. It didn’t even cross my mind that it was because many of my peers had families that funded their placement years. However, that wasn’t an option for me. As it isn’t for many others from working-class backgrounds.

Unfortunately, despite all my saving, in the end I just couldn’t afford to take the internship. I had connected with other future-interns for a house share, but the only options in the zoo vicinity was renting an unfurnished house (at London market prices!). As I spoke with the other students, I came to realise that their parents were helping to support them.

No matter how I calculated things, even with student finance, I just couldn’t afford to survive for a year in that situation. Getting a second job after my internship hours was an option, but not a guarantee that I could make rent. Let alone utilities and food. Add to that travel costs and furnishing a house. The thought was overwhelming.

And believe me, I was willing to do it. I would have broken myself into pieces and worked myself into the ground for that internship. But I was scared that I would end up stuck in another country, tied to a year-long lease, unable to make rent and feed myself. I had no safety-net.

Devastated, I had to pull out. I received a rather scathing reply from the intern-coordinator, who really twisted the knife in and then contacted my university course leader, no doubt with the same strong words. All-around humiliating.

I felt a huge amount of guilt at accepting the internship and then pulling out and letting them down. After all, because of me, that team was down one staff member. Now, of course, I see the situation through a much different lens.

While I was heartbroken at having to give up that opportunity, I was also upset that my family wasn’t as well off as others. I cried to my mother that I would never get my dream job without experience, but I couldn’t afford to get the experience. The system wasn’t built for people like me. To which she replied with the typical Irish platitude— “what’s for you wont pass you.” And despite my annoyance at the time, she was right.

A year later I got an internship at a another zoo, known for their conservation work. Again unpaid, and although it was tight-going, I was able to afford it (thanks to my student loan over-draft). At the time, I believed that the debt was worth it for the experience and connections that I gained, and the friends that I still keep in touch with to this day.

But looking back now, I feel enraged. Conservation is an industry of passion. And our passion is too often something that is taken advantage of. There are many people willing to do anything to get their foot in the door, but these unpaid internships cater to a specific socio-economic demographic. Those that can afford to work a full-time job for free.

Unpaid internships take advantage of people’s aspirations while perpetuating inequality in the conservation industry. Those than can afford to undertake unpaid work are able to get experience, build professional networks, and secure better job prospects, while those from less privileged backgrounds are left behind.

Over time, this inequality creates systemic barriers that limit career growth for working-class professionals and ensures that industries remain dominated by those with financial privilege.

It’s time to end exploitation and perpetuation of inequality and exclusion in the zoo and conservation industry. Whether that means providing stipends, free accommodation or apprenticeship wages for interns. In fact, research has shown that paying interns does not compromise an institution's financial stability.

We need to demand better from the industry, not only for ourselves but for future generations of young professionals who deserve equal access to opportunities.

Are you working in the zoo or conservation industry? I would love to know your thoughts about unpaid internships or work placements.

Are there zoo or conservation organisations that offer financial compensation or support for students or interns? Let’s celebrate them. Drop a comment below!

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Even before reaching slaughter age, around 50% of farmed shrimp die, amounting to approximately 1.2 billion shrimp deaths every single day.

And for those who do survive, conditions are grim.

Studies show that shrimp face hundreds of hours of pain throughout the production process. Common practices include eyestalk ablation—a production method that is both inhumane, and largely hidden from public view.

For years, the global shrimp farming industry has relied on a breeding technique known as eyestalk ablation—thought to make hatcheries more efficient.

“Ablation gives producers predictability around spawning, which enables better planning for production” —Dr Belinda Yaxley.

The eyestalk of crustaceans, such as shrimps and crabs, contains glands important for moulting and reproduction. The X-organ-sinus-gland complex in the eyestalk of crustaceans produces and stores hormones, including the gonad-inhibiting hormone (GIH). This hormone controls the reproductive organs and when they mature and spawn. And removing this gland, by eyestalk ablation, is believed to speed up the maturation and breeding of farmed shrimp, by making them spawn sooner.

What’s the problem with eyestalk ablation?

Eyestalk ablation (ESA) occurs by cutting, crushing, or burning one or both eyestalks. It is carried out without pain relief and causes extreme distress to the animal, as indicated by their aversive behavioural responses. Scientists observed that shrimps that were subjected to ESA tried to escape. They were also observed to flick their tails and rub their eye area. When their wounds were covered or they were given medical treatment, they calmed down. Trigger Warning: Photo of the ESA process below.

“Shrimp demonstrate aversive behavioural responses to eyestalk ablation” —Shrimp Welfare Project

Another hormone affected by ESA is the moult-inhibiting hormone (MIH). When eyestalks are removed, moulting increases. This uses a massive amount of energy, causing the animals to become exhausted and stressed, and making it harder for them to reproduce in intensive farming settings.

Additionally, shrimp that have moulted have softer bodies, leading to them being eaten by other shrimps, as they cannot defend themselves without their hard shell.

Not only is eyestalk ablation painful and inhumane, but it may also increase costs by harming shrimp health as well as decreasing profits for farmers. The offspring from ablated females' are less tolerant of stress and are more likely to get diseases. There are many possible stress factors that compromise welfare for animals in aquaculture; such as handing, high stocking densities, crowding and poor water quality, to name just a few. Eyestalk ablation is one more thing that worsens their welfare.

And the absolute kicker is that ablation doesn’t actually improve shrimp production.

A 2019 study by Stirling University, debunked the notion that eyestalk ablation results in higher egg production and showed that alternatives to the practice could be cost neutral or even cost saving for farms

Studies show that animals who have not been ablated can have the same productivity levels as those who have. And yes, even when they are insensitively farmed, offspring show similar production potential and may even be more resilient to stress compared to offspring from ablated females. Studies have found that non-ablated females produce more eggs (> 20%) and nauplii larvae (> 16%) per day; and that there is no significant difference between hatching rates of ablated and non-ablated shrimps.

Clearly eyestalk ablation is not the only factor that affects shrimp productivity.

In fact, evidence suggests that there could be several factors including conditions during spawning, variation in fertility rates and general animal health.

And while animals who had their eyestalks removed did succeed in mating and spawning more often… this comes at a high cost. And just who pays it?

Eyestalk ablated shrimp have almost double the mortality rate and lower productivity in the long-term.

Whereas juveniles from non-ablated females have higher survival rates when affected by common shrimp diseases in aquaculture (such as Early Mortality Syndrome and White Spot Syndrome Virus).

Swimming towards better practices

The evidence is crystal clear. Ablation has no significant long-term advantages. Farmers should replace it practice with the use of non-ablated breeding animals. Changes in husbandry should be made to compensate for the lower mating rate of non-ablated animals. The use of non-ablated breeding animals means lower mortality rates for breeding animals, better animal welfare, higher productivity in the long-term, and less losses for producers. Improving shrimp wellbeing is not only ethically important, but better welfare supports economic success.

A Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) survey of global shrimp farmers and industry readiness for adopting alternative practices, in 2024, found that producers are responding to animal welfare concerns and growing pressure to end ablation but admit that getting there is a complex process that will take several years.

And simply telling farmers to stop doing ESA is not going to solve the issue.

However, organisations such as the Shrimp Welfare Project and the GSA are providing alternative solutions to achieve similar or better production without ESA:

• Providing breeding animals with good quality nutrition during the pre-growth stage, as specialised diets designed for reproductive needs can significantly enhance natural spawning rates.

• Maintaining a sex ratio of 1:2 male to female instead of the usual 1:1.

• Using breeding animals for only a limited number of generations.

• Considering closed-cycle breeding as an alternative to ESA. Meaning that producers breed successive generations of high-quality animals.

• Creating optimal environmental conditions in hatcheries. Light cycles and water quality can stimulate natural ovarian maturation and spawning. Once these systems are in place operations become less labour intensive

Challenges in changing tides

The transition may not be as easy as it sounds.

The GSA survey found the challenges to ending ablation include costs, global educational barriers, market acceptance, regulation and policy considerations as well as the risk of reduced productivity due to less predictability around spawning.

The survey found that shrimp farmers were open to changing but when they tried to turn away from the ablation technique after requests from supermarkets, they met obstacles that helped to explain why it has endured for so long. And many farmers gave up. However, with more research, better infrastructure, and farmer training, there is proof that alternatives methods to ablation do work.

“While it may be challenging for some producers, eyestalk ablation should not be considered best practice in shrimp aquaculture” —Mike Kocsis, CEO of Global Seafood Alliance

If you are a shrimp farmer, supply chain professional looking to put shrimp welfare at the heart of your business and improve performance, or just a fellow shrimp enthusiast, you can find resources at Shrimp Hub. The FAI have just launched a free course shrimp welfare indicators which is available in eight languages!

Subscribe now

Real life choices

Although we may not feel like our choices matter. Or that one person can make a difference, but that just shrimply isn’t true.

As consumers, we have the power to create meaningful change in food production systems by purchasing wisely, and choosing what we want to support with our hard earned money. And that is why I wanted to write about eyestalk ablation. Because many people have no idea about it. And I believe in empowering people to make better ethical choices, (when they can) to help drive change in food systems.

Consumer power does work.

In fact, due to public pressure about welfare concerns, several UK supermarkets such as Asda, Tesco, Ocado, M&S, Iceland, Morrisons, have committed to phasing out eyestalk ablation broodstock shrimp by 2027.

Co-op were way ahead of the curve, having already phased out ESA in their production lines since 2024.

However Lidl and Aldi have not made any firm commitments or timelines for change.

As of 2025, there were 1,900 shrimp farms and 150 shrimp hatcheries which were actively Best Aquaculture Practices-certified (BAP) and producing almost 800,000 tons of shrimp annually. However, although the BAP certified label may look like a winning purchase, eyestalk ablation is still very much occurring in these systems. And so it is important to be aware of what these welfare labels actually mean. Lest we succumb to “welfare washing.”

Although, it is heartening to hear that the Global Seafood Alliance (GSA) has announced that they will ban eyestalk ablation in their BAP-certified shrimp by 2030, and will support farmers to make the transition, which shows a significant shift in industry standards.

Transitioning the industry to better welfare farming techniques will require continued collaboration between scientists, farmers, retailers, and consumers to ensure that the shrimp on our plates comes from a system that respects the welfare of these fascinating creatures.

I’m not here to condemn anyone who eats shrimp or prawns, and I know that it isn’t realistic to expect everyone to suddenly stop eating animal products. But I am here to share all the information with you, so that you can make your purchase count for something that can improve billions of lives.

Yours in compassion,

Demi

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It feels as though the world is on fire.

My social media is flooded with disturbing content from the depths of human behaviour. Terrible men committing unspeakable acts against the vulnerable. And escaping any accountability for their actions.

It is so easy to become overwhelmed by the injustice and brutality of the world. And the depths of cruelty displayed by our own species.

And right now, I just need to think about something good. And maybe you need to read about something good, too. So this one is for us.

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Here are some good things that are happening in the world of animal welfare right now:

South Korea Bans Bear Bile Farming

The ministry of Climate, Energy and Environment in South Korea have banned the breeding and possession of bears and the extraction of their bile as of January 2026. This change is in line with a revised animal rights protection law that imposes up to two or five years of prison sentences to violators. Although many of the bears are still kept in small cages until farmers are compensated for their bears, and the animals relocated are relocated to sanctuaries. The Ministry said bear farmers will have a six-month grace period but will be punished by law if they extract bile from their animals.

Indonesia Bans Elephant Riding

A mammoth welfare win for elephants in Indonesia, as the Government bans elephant riding and close encounters in favour of ethical, observation-based wildlife tourism. This is a significant win after years of campaigning from animal welfare organisations, which have long exposed the harm caused by elephant rides (read more here).

France includes Pet Care in School Curriculums

France is teaching kindness by including pet care in the national school curriculums. In these lessons, children learn about how animals feel stress, fear, comfort and trust. They learn to read body language and understand boundaries and needs of common companion animals. Compassion and responsibility are being taught as essential life skills, and not just optional values. Educators believe that when children learn to care for animals, that empathy naturally extends to people, too. By teaching kindness early, France hopes to raise a generation that treats all living beings with care, understanding and responsibility. Something that we need more of in our world.

Scottish Law Helps Endangered Swifts

Scotland has become the first country in the UK to pass a law mandating that all new buildings include ‘swift bricks’. Swift populations in the UK have declined by more than 60% since 1995. However, this new law aims to help conserve the endangered birds, as well as other cavity-nesting species, which have lost access to house roofs for nesting, thanks to renovations and modern insulation. These hollow bricks, costing just 35 GBP, are a small but essential step towards boosting swift populations and saving the species from extinction. Swifts need England, Wales and Northern Ireland to follow Scotlands lead; and while England’s Government have promised to write swift bricks into into planning policy instead of law, we should all be watching and holding the Government to its word. And swiftly.

“Scotland has stood united for birds. What a landmark victory!” - Hannah Bourne-Taylor

California Law Against Declawing Cats

California has passed a law against declawing cats, unless it is deemed medically necessary. Declawing is the painful and irreversible, surgical amputation of the last bone of each toe, not just a nail trim. For us, it is the equivalent to cutting off a finger at the first knuckle. This law will prevent cats from undergoing a procedure that causes pain and serious long-term suffering. This is part of a greater welfare momentum, as more US states introduce bans and veterinarians refuse to perform this procedure.

Fur Free Fashion Week

The New York Fashion Week has confirmed that they will go fur free in 2026, finally joining other major fashion weeks that have already rejected real fur. This decision strengthens global efforts to end cruelty in the fashion industry and supports a future where designers choose ethical and sustainable materials that protect animals.

I hope that, despite whatever else you might see, this has brought a little bit of light to your day.

Yours in hope,

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What makes a human sentient?

Some may say it’s our ability to experience emotions like pleasure or joy, pain and sorrow, while others believe that it is our capacity for consciousness that make us sentient beings.

The term ‘sentience’ in English, comes from the Latin word ‘sentire.’

Which literally means ‘to feel.’

But what does the science say?

Well, science tells us that sentience is the ability to have conscious, valanced affective experiences.

Valance is the degree to which an affective state is considered positive (ie. rewarding) or negative (ie. aversive).

However, these experiences may differ greatly, as they are subjective and unique to the individual.

People have different experiences. And so too, do other species.

Types of Experiences…

Sensations

Experiences can be sensations like tactile touches or textures, sights, sounds, smells or tastes that we like or dislike.

Take Matcha for example – I absolutely love a good matcha latte, but my sister is absolutely repulsed by it and is convinced that it tastes like grass. We have a different valenced experience for matcha; mine is positive, yet hers is negative!

My colleagues and I recently had a conversation about our favourite animals smells. For the record, Your Honor, mine is tiger pee (because it smells like popcorn!)

And while these scents are positively valenced for us, as it elicits positive affective states and emotions, other people may be horrified and never look at popcorn the same way again!

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Okay now, granted, that may be a very niche example of valence, but animal people are the best kind of weird. If you know, you know.

And hopefully now you’ll never forget what ‘valence’ means!

Thoughts, Memories & Emotions

There are also experiences that are not related to the senses, but are related to thoughts, such as memories or related to emotions like joy, fear and distress!

These experiences can be either pleasant (pleasures) or unpleasant (suffering) and the capacity to have valanced experiences has a special significance for ethics.

In fact, it is often said to be a ground, or even the ground, for moral status. With huge implications for how we should be treating animals.

What are indicators of sentience?

Firstly, let me preface by saying that indicators are just that, Indicators. Different types of evidence that increase our confidence that sentience is present!

They aren’t proof of sentience but they can indicate potential sentience.

But it’s also important to remember that a lack of indicators, does not prove non-sentience.

Much like a lack of negative experiences does not equal a positive welfare status

It’s very difficult to prove what beings are sentient. That being said, there are some indicators of sentience that we can look at which can give us a good idea!

A Bugs Life

Many believe that insects are not conscious. Maybe their small size and a general lack of knowledge about them means that they are often underestimated. Despite this, insects are capable of incredible behaviours!

Fruit flies display non-reflexative behaviour in response to shadows overhead (fear of potential predators) that is reminescent of anxiety. They will often stop eating and fly away. However, when they are very hungry they will stay and eat.

This suggests that they take various positive and negative factors into consideration for decision making! Weighing up the pros and cons, so to speak!

Bees perform waggle dances to communicate with other bees in their colony about the location of food resources, moving their bodies depending on different factors. They agitate their bodies according to how much food they found, they move in a certain direction to provide directions to the food and they move for a certain amount of time to indicate how far away the food is.

Isn’t that incredible?!

If we saw these behaviours and traits in larger animals, many would believe them to be good indicators of consciousness.

So if these insects are conscious, doesn’t that provide a good case for consciousness in similar insects species?

Discussions around consciousness and sentience have led to a change in UK legislation, giving rise to the Animal Welfare Sentience Act 2022, which include any vertebrate other than homo sapiens, any cephalopod mollusc (squid & octopus), and any decapod crustacean (crab, lobster, shrimp & prawn) as sentient and capable of feeling joy, pain, and fear!

Pain as an indicator of sentience

The controversial discussion of fish sentience has focussed primarily on the capacity for pain experience (read my article on this topic: HERE!).

Pain is a subjective experience that is consciously unpleasant and though some scientists are still skeptical about fish sentience and the experience of pain in aquatic invertebrates; the general consensus is that fish feel pain and their suffering is real. Therefore we should treat them as such!

But what does that mean for insects?

We often swat insects away to avoid painful stings but do they feel the pain that we inflict?

Studies say that many insects, such as bees, do!

Despite having a brain the size of a poppy seed; previous research has shown that bees are intelligent, complex learners, understanding of math, spatial navigation, the concept of zero, individual recognition of among faces, and can be optimistic and pessimistic!

In a study investigating one of the criteria commonly used for defining pain in animals, “motivational trade-offs.” Investigators placed two types of feeders on colour coded mats, one low-sugar and one high-sugar and allowed the bees to come one time to sip from each. All bees preferred the high-sugar feeders.

After the initial investigation, the high-sugar mat was raised in temperature, not high enough to injure the bees, but high enough to be aversive, making the bees consider leaving the area.

Researchers found that if the sugar was super-concentrated, the bees would put up with more pain.

When both coloured feeders held high sugar, the bees avoided the previously colour associated with the heat, suggesting that they used associative memories!

In another study, bees were observed tending to their wounds. However some scientists are still sceptical as to whether this indicates a pain response or an evolutionary response to avoid long-term damage.

So what does this buzz mean for practical applications?

Without divulging into the incredibly important roles that insects play in ecosystems…

Insects make up about two thirds of all animal species on earth, but we tend to kill them without a second thought.

From fleas on our pets. “House Pests” likes ants and cockroaches.

Or the insects that feed on our crops; killed off pesticides.

And now there is increasing pressure to find solutions for feeding the growing human population. And one of the proposed answers to this problem is to farm edible insects as a sustainable protein both for human consumption and as feed for domesticated livestock.

But if insects are capable of sentience and suffering, what does this mean for this new and rapidly developing industry?

The welfare and protection of invertebrates, particularly farmed invertebrates, is an increasingly relevant topic! Now other invertebrates, such as cephalopods and decapods, are being recognised as sentient in legislation around the world.

Should we consider capacity for sentience for insects? What would this mean in real life contexts and applications?

Bug me with your thoughts in the comments below!

Yours in compassion,

Demi 🐞

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Have you ever looked into an animals’ eyes and wondered what they were feeling?

For centuries, the idea of animal emotions was dismissed as anthropomorphism.

In fact, when I was studying for my Bachelors degree, we were taught not to view animals through a human lens. To avoid projecting human emotions which could lead to misunderstandings about an animals welfare state.

We were taught to be objective. Scientific.

But science is now revealing the inner world of animal emotions!

A key component of animal welfare is “affective state.”

In other words; how an animal feels. It refers to the emotional and mood-based experiences of an animal.

However, this is difficult to assess.

Affective states are transient, subjective internal experiences, not just observable behaviours. They are mental states with neuronal, physiological and cognitive aspects that equate to internal emotions and feelings.

While emotions are considered to be short-term experiences that are triggered by specific internal or external stimuli; moods are long term and generalised as they don’t result from specific stimuli.

Affective states can vary in their degree of valance (from very negative to very positive), in their level of intensity or arousal (low, moderate, high) and in their duration!

The field of animal welfare science shows evidence that sentient animals feel a range of different emotions and feelings like pleasure, pain, joy, boredom, curiosity and frustration—just like we do!

While some may be reading this and agreeing that, yes, it’s obvious that animals are capable of feeling emotions… this tends to be something we reserve in our minds for cute mammals or more charismatic and intelligent species, like elephants.

Sadly, many people are unintentionally biased against species that we find harder to relate to, like reptiles and invertebrates. But while they may experience things differently, we should not diminish that, simply because we can’t understand their experience.

Welfare is dynamic.

It changes depending on many factors—from an animal’s physical health and nutrition to their environment, social interactions, and daily routines or by an animal’s ability (or inability) to express certain behaviours.

Preventing negative experiences does not equal positive welfare.

While it’s important to prevent or reduce negative experiences and affective states in animals, this alone does not guarantee a positive affective state!

We need to provide opportunities for animals to experience positive affective states.

But what do affective states have to do with animal welfare?

Animal welfare is a characteristic of the individual.

It describes the quality of an animal’s life as experienced by the animal.

Experience being the key word here.

Because two animals living in the same environment may have very different experiences (good and bad); and therefore different welfare states!

An animal’s welfare is intrinsically linked to an animals’ welfare state.

Understanding affective states in animals and what influences them is crucial for improving their welfare and informing ethical considerations in relation to how we treat them and care for them.

How does this translate into our own lives?

Many of us experienced Quarantine during the Covid 19 Pandemic. We were stuck in our house, unable to socialise with our peers. We weren’t able to leave our homes and do our usual activities; behaviours that we may have been highly motivated to do!

We were safe and cared for in terms of our physical health; but our choice and control was taken away from us. Many of us may have experienced boredom, distress, a lack of control and an intense need to get out of the house.

Now think about everything that we did have during this time. Mobile phones, Netflix, video calls with our families, social media, movies, video games, and books to name a few…

We still had a lot of activities to occupy us. But, because we were frustrated by our inability to leave the house and do other highly motivated behaviours, we likely had negative experiences and affective states.

Whereas others may have had different experiences and positive affective states!

Emotions make sense!

For many of us working in animal care, or even those who are pet parents, the subject of animals experiencing emotions and feelings is nothing new or shocking!

In fact many of us have been saying this for decades. It can be obvious when an animal seems to be enjoying a pleasurable state or when they feel fear or pain.

And the value of emotions makes sense in terms of survival and evolution!

They have an adaptive function leading to decision making. Hunger leads to foraging for food, fear of danger leads to a higher rate of survival, while pleasure encourages reproduction to pass on genes and specific traits to offspring.

However, it’s important we need to balance empathy and objective interpretation.

We must avoiding anthropomorphism in favour of scientific rigor. And keep in mind that these emotions are not a result of reflection or complex thought. They are basic feelings driven by specific motivations that support decision making and survival.

And these affective states may manifest differently between species. While it may be easier to observe affective states in a Wolf than a Wolf Spider, this does not mean that the latter does not have the capacity to experience similar emotions!

And it is our responsibility to encourage lives that are not just free from suffering, but also rich in positive experiences!

Elephant riding has long been on the Asia traveller’s bucket list.

But if you’re planning a trip to Indonesia any time soon, don’t be surprised to find that all those tours for elephant rides have disappeared…

And this is an elephant-sized win for animal welfare!

The government of Indonesia have issued a directive to formally end elephant riding and other close-encounter activities at conservation and tourism facilities across the country.

This mammoth move is strengthening national animal welfare practices, shifting the country towards ethical, observation-based wildlife tourism.

Elephant riding has long been recognised by welfare experts and scientists as being harmful, and yet, many people are still unaware of what these elephants experience.

The training methods used to force elephants to accept riders are extremely painful and stressful, resulting in long-term physical and emotional suffering.

Many of the elephants are overworked, spending hours carrying tourists on hard surfaces, in extreme head. And when they are not working, they are chained, unable to socialise or move freely.

They often have arthritis, foot problems, and don’t receive adequate food, water or veterinary care.

These elephants have no agency in their lives, their choice and control taken away and their natural behaviour severely restricted.

Unable to bath, forage or roam. All behaviours that are critical to elephant welfare.

Elephant riding is often compared to horse riding but, despite their large size, carrying riders on their back causes physical harm.

Unlike horses who have been domesticated by humans over thousands of years, elephants are not a domesticated species. No matter how habituated to humans they may seem, their wild instincts still remain, even if they’re born in captivity.

Elephant bodies are not suitable for riding. Carrying weight on their back causes spine damage, stunted growth and affects their internal organs. The chairs used to carry tourists add yet more weight, causing more spinal pressure and painful sores.

This new welfare directive comes after years of campaigning from several animal welfare organisations, who have long called for global action to end these cruel wildlife tourism attractions.

While Indonesia’s ban marks a huge win for elephant welfare, this needs to be part of a global movement to end cruelty in wildlife tourism.

I hope that this will lead the way forward and spark widespread change to end other cruel experiences and close-up encounters across Indonesia and Southeast Asia.

Yours in compassion,

Demi

Social media itself is a prime example. That perpetual itch to scroll through our fyp. It’s addictive. A dopamine hit, straight to our reward centres.

It makes us feel connected. It gives us a laugh, or inspires us.

Now, think back on the last 24 hours. Just how many times has your algorithm fed you a cute animal video? Maybe it’s the instagram account that your friend has created to show the daily antics of their cat (shout-out to Susan the cat), or a compilation of clumsy, roly-poly, giant pandas. Or our lord and saviour, David Attenborough’s Lyrebird interaction (you’re welcome).

It’s instant Serotonin.

Shockingly though, amongst the plethora of positive content available to us at the press of a button, sometimes lies content showing animal cruelty.

But that’s easy to recognise, isn’t it? I mean, we know when something is cruel. Because it’s obvious, Right?

Most of us are probably pretty confident in our ability to spot an animal that is being mistreated or abused. Or even when an animal is suffering. Because in our minds, suffering is easy to identify.

Well, the fact of the matter is… sometimes it’s just not that simple.

Sometimes animal abuse can appear positive to the untrained eye.

It can be so difficult to identify suffering an a 30 second snapshot from a TikTok or an IG reel. Especially if an animal appears to be okay.

Mental and emotional harm isn’t always obvious to see, but it is just as severe as physical abuse.

Let’s have a think about the kind of animal content that often goes viral…

• Wild animals in pet-like situations

• Lions in people’s houses, treated ‘just like big kitty cats’

• Viral animal cafes filled with owls, otters and capybaras; kept for the sole purpose of attracting tourists (I’m looking at you Japan!)

• Or what about ‘orphaned’ lion cubs being bottle-fed by well-meaning tourists?

• A pygmy slow loris being “tickled” as it holds its arms in the air (an involuntary stress response, not a sign of enjoyment).

• Apes and monkeys dressed in diapers, treated like human babies.

• Big cats “play wrestling” with humans.

• Pet chimps “smiling” at their owners (a fear grimace, not happiness).

These go viral. Millions of views. Millions of shares.

What is the common denominator here? Us. The watchers. The content consumers.

And our algorithm is collecting all of that data. What we watch, what we like and interact with. What we share and with who.

With every view, like, comment, and share, the content is pushed further. The videos climb higher in recommendation feeds, reaching broader audiences. More clicks. More views. More engagement.

And so the cycle repeats.

And if that content is finding it’s way to us, it’s not because we’re cruel, terrible, awful people who delight in suffering. No. It’s because we’re animal lovers who don’t know any better.

Because animal suffering can be hard to spot!

In fact, studies found that people overwhelmingly responded positively to videos of human interactions with exotic animals on YouTube, highlighting that many viewers can’t recognise cruelty when it isn’t obviously harming the animal.

The more “normal” this content becomes, the less likely people are to question it.

But here’s what we don’t see…

• Most of those animals were stolen from the wild

• Many are orphaned, their parents killed so traffickers can steal the babies

• For every wild animal you see, many more have died in the process of capture, smuggling and transporting

• Some have had their teeth pulled out with pliers, claws removed, or have been drugged to make them more manageable and “safe”

• Many will never be able to go back to the wild again.

Most of us are completely unaware of the the trauma, pain and exploitation in those videos. And I’ll admit—I’ve been there myself.

Before my Bachelors degree, I was fascinated by slow lorises. I remember watching the now-infamous “tickling video” and thinking it was adorable. What I didn’t know at the time was that I was witnessing a solitary, nocturnal animal being kept awake during daylight, experiencing extreme stress, and held captive as a pet in an environment it was never meant for. Trafficked due to its habitat being destroyed for palm oil and sold to the pet trade for its “cute-factor” driven by the popularity of these videos.

Now, when I see a “smiling” chimp, I understand that it’s actually showing fear. When I see people cuddling wild animals, instead of saying “aww,” alarm bells go off in my mind. And when I see exotic animals in someone’s home, I don’t think, “I want one.”
I think, “Where did this wild animal come from? And at what cost?”

And by cost, I don’t mean money.

These videos create a vicious cycle of harm, normalising the concept of “owning” wildlife and fuelling the demand for more animals to be sold by wildlife traffickers in the illegal pet trade.

Simply engaging with (even negative comments) and sharing this content, especially when it lacks educational context, can unintentionally support industries that harm wildlife and undermine wildlife conservation efforts. The best thing to do is report them.

How do I know if a video is cruel or an animal may be suffering?

When viewing animals on social media, take a step back and think about the situation you are watching, the experience of the animals involved and the person behind the camera.

We can ask ourselves a few easy questions and decide whether it may be cruel: ​

• Should this animal be a pet?

• Is this a wild animal?

• Can the animal leave the situation?

• Is this a social animal? (think groups of meerkats, troops of monkeys)

• What happens when the animal grows up?

• Do good intentions matter?

• Does the animal seem to engage in unnatural behaviours? (e.g. wearing clothes, eating human food, close contact selfies with a human, displaying non-wild behaviour)

And if you are in doubt, Battersea Park Children’s Zoo have created a brilliant sharable & downloadable flow-chart resource as part of their #ShareSavvy campaign to help us understand whether we should share the animal content we are watching!

You Have the Power to Protect Animals at your Fingertips!

Social media has become a double-edged sword for animals. While it can raise awareness, it has also become a breeding ground for content that glamorises cruelty and exploitation, often disguised as cute or entertaining clips.

Social media platforms just aren’t doing enough to filter harmful content, which makes your role as the viewer more important than ever.

If you’ve made it this far—hello, and thank you! I hope this article has given you some food for thought!

In the age of technology, we consume so much content on a daily basis, it is easy to become desensitised to what we are seeing. But remember: Every view, like, comment, and share influences the algorithm. It might seem small, but your engagement can help either promote exploitation, or help to stop it in its tracks!

And if you didn’t know better before, that’s okay. We’ve all been there. What matters now is that you know how to spot the signs, and you know better.

So if you’re ever unsure—Pause. Question. Don’t share. Report.

Let’s make compassion go viral instead!

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Most people I talk to care about animals in some way. They don’t want animals to suffer. They support “humane” treatment. They assume that if harm is reduced, welfare has improved.

That makes sense — but it’s also where a lot of confusion about animal welfare begins.

Animal welfare isn’t just about avoiding cruelty, and it isn’t the same thing as animal rights. It’s a scientific framework for understanding how animals experience their lives — physically, mentally, and emotionally.

In welfare science, we ask questions like:

• Can the animal cope with its environment?

• Does it experience pain, fear, or frustration?

• Does it have opportunities for positive experiences, not just the absence of harm?

This is where things get complicated. An animal can be healthy but distressed. Safe but frustrated. Well-fed but chronically bored. Welfare isn’t a single switch you flip — it’s a balance of factors that can improve or deteriorate over time.

That’s why welfare debates are often messier than people expect. Choices that look obviously “better” on the surface can have hidden costs. Systems designed to protect animals can sometimes create new problems.

And this matters, because welfare science shapes:

• how animals are kept and cared for

• how laws and standards are written

• what “humane” actually means in practice

If we want to make better decisions for animals — individually or collectively — we need to understand welfare as something dynamic, evidence-based, and deeply contextual.

That’s what I’ll keep exploring here!

What’s one common belief you’ve held about ‘humane’ treatment that you’re now questioning? Let me know in the comments below!

(Originally published in a longer form on Why Welfare Matters.)

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This platform started out as a passion project to make animal welfare science accessible and impactful for every day people.

No jargon, just simple information that allows us to make informed choices in the world we live in.

I hope to connect with others who care about animals, science, and evidence-based approaches to improving welfare. I’ll be sharing regular, science-informed insights about everything from ants to aardvarks, and everything in between.

If this resonates with you, I’d love for you to follow along.

Thank you for the support — and for being part of a community that cares! 🐾🌍

— Demi 🌿

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