Welfare and Enrichment of Managed Nocturnal Species, Supported by Technology
by
, , , , , and
Fiona French
1,*
,
Paige Bwye
2
,
Laura Carrigan
3,
Jon Charles Coe
4,†, 
Robert Kelly
5,
Tiff Leek
6,
Emily C. Lynch
7,
Eric Mahan
7 and
Cathy Mingee
7 1
School of Computing and Digital Media, London Metropolitan University, 166-220 Holloway Road, London N7 8DB, UK
2
Bristol Zoological Society, Hollywood Lane, Bristol BS10 7TW, UK
3
Zoological Society of London, London N1 4RY, UK
4
Independent Researcher, Cambridge, VIC 3777, Australia
5
Centre for Research in Animal Behaviour, University of Exeter, Rennes Drive, Exeter EX4 4RN, UK
6
Faculty of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths, The Open University, Milton Keynes MK7 6AA, UK
7
North Carolina Zoo, 4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, NC 27205, USA
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
Jon Coe Design was retired.
Animals 2024, 14(16), 2378; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14162378
Submission received: 16 July 2024
/
Revised: 13 August 2024
/
Accepted: 15 August 2024
/
Published: 16 August 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Animal–Computer Interaction: Advances and Opportunities)
Simple Summary
The behaviours and needs of nocturnal animals can be overlooked by humans, potentially because of our poor night vision and diurnal waking hours. Despite certain challenges in studying many nocturnal animals, appropriate provisions for their welfare should be supported in both wild and managed environments. To investigate this issue and explore ways to offer technology-enhanced welfare, husbandry practices and enrichment opportunities for nocturnal species, we conducted a multidisciplinary workshop (Moon Jam). During the event, species experts provided animal welfare briefs that related to specific challenges for nocturnal animals in different contexts. Teams of participants addressed these challenges in collaborative design sessions, producing a collection of hand-crafted models to share their ideas. An important aspect of the workshop was to be inclusive of all the stakeholders involved, including zoo management teams, animal stewards and zoo visitors, as well as the individual species. In this paper, we present our reflections on managed nocturnal animal welfare, framing these within current practices and Moon Jam workshop outputs. We contribute a set of guidelines for those involved with caring for zoo-housed nocturnal species, emphasizing the provision of technology-enhanced husbandry and enrichment opportunities.
Abstract
This paper addresses the potential for technology to support husbandry and enrichment opportunities that enhance the welfare of zoo and sanctuary-housed nocturnal and crepuscular species. This topic was investigated through the medium of a multidisciplinary workshop (Moon Jam) that brought together species experts, zoo designers, Animal-Computer Interaction researchers and post-graduate students in collaborative discussions and design sessions. We explain the context through an examination of existing research and current practices, and report on specific challenges raised and addressed during the Moon Jam, highlighting and discussing key themes that emerged. Finally, we offer a set of guidelines to support the integration of technology into the design of animal husbandry and enrichment that support wellbeing, to advance the best practices in keeping and managing nocturnal and crepuscular animals.
