Five Welfare Needs

Question 1

What are the five welfare needs?

Answer 1

Housed in a suitable environment
Housed with or without others
Suitable diet
Protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease
Exhibit natural/normal behaviour patterns

Question 2

How could a suitable environment be created in captivity?

Answer 2

Furniture, enrichment, temperature

Question 3

Give an example of a suitable environment being created in a captive space

Answer 3

Artificial and natural plants being placed into an elephant’s enclosure alongside rocks and a pool

Question 4

State 3 ways that an animal can be encouraged to exhibit natural behaviour patterns in captivity

Answer 4

Puzzle feeders/hidden food (foraging/burrowing), suitable substrate (digging), addition of companion to enclosure (if suitable - grooming/play)

Question 5

How can animals be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease?

Answer 5

By the using preventative care (flea/worming, vaccinations)

Question 6

Outline the techniques that handlers/keepers could use to provide a suitable diet for the animals without the animals becoming bored of dietary monotony

Answer 6

Puzzle feeders, adapted presentation of food to create interest, vary types of food given (types of fresh fruits given to monkeys - if safe)

Question 7

State 4 issues with the environment that is created in zoos

Answer 7

Large crowds of tourists may cause distress, crowds may overfeed animals, predator animals may be housed within close proximity to prey animals & animals from different social groupings may be housed together (e.g. rhinos and zebras) which may cause conflict