Guidelines for the treatment of animals in behavioural research and teaching
Behavioural studies are of great importance in increasing our
understanding and appreciation of animals. In addition to
providing knowledge about the diversity and complexity of behaviour
in nature, such studies also provide information crucial to
improvements in the welfare of animals maintained in laboratories,
agricultural settings and zoos, and as companion animals. The use
of animals in behavioural research and teaching does, however,
raise important ethical issues. While many behavioural studies
are noninvasive and involve only observations of animals in their
natural habitat, some research questions cannot be addressed
without manipulation of animals. Studies of captive animals necessarily
involve keeping animals in confinement, while at times
studies involving wild animals require that provision is made for
trapping and subsequent release of the animals. Consideration
has to be given to appropriate marking techniques to allow individuals
to be distinguished, and manipulative procedures and surgery
may be necessary to achieve the aims of the research. Studies of
free-living animals in their natural habitats can cause disruption
to the animals’ population or the wider ecosystem, particularly if
feeding, capture, marking or experimental procedures are involved.
While the furthering of scientific knowledge is a proper aim and
may itself advance an awareness of human responsibility towards
animal life, the investigator must always weigh the potential gain
in knowledge against any adverse consequences for the individual
animals, populations under study, and the wider ecosystem. This is
equally true for the evaluation of animal use in animal behaviour
teaching activities. In fact, animal behaviour courses provide an
excellent opportunity to introduce students to the ethical obligations
a researcher accepts when animals are studied.