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| Unit name |
Animal Behaviour, Welfare, Ethics and Law for Wildlife Professionals |
| Unit code |
VETSM0057 |
| Credit points |
20 |
| Level of study |
M/7
|
| Teaching block(s) |
Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
|
| Unit director |
Dr. Lambton |
| Open unit status |
Not open |
| Pre-requisites |
None
|
| Co-requisites |
None
|
| School/department |
Bristol Veterinary School |
| Faculty |
Faculty of Health Sciences |
Description including Unit Aims
This unit takes students from learning about the basic biological principles underlying animal behaviour and welfare to considering how these can be applied to tackle practical wildlife health and management problems, both in the wild and in captivity. It will also introduce them to ethics and law relevant to wildlife management. The unit will offer opportunities to explore a number of real world scenarios, drawing together behaviour and welfare science, ethics and law.
Students will learn to use their combined knowledge of ethical reasoning, and behaviour and welfare science to bring an informed perspective to tackling wildlife management and conservation issues. In addition, they will be able to recognise and analyse ethical and legal dilemmas affecting wildlife welfare, health and conservation worldwide.
Intended Learning Outcomes
On completion of this unit the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding and integration of the basic scientific principles of animal behaviour and welfare.
- Demonstrate knowledge of the various definitions of animal welfare and a working understanding of the main models of animal welfare.
- Apply knowledge of behavioural principles and welfare science to predict and tackle practical problems and measure welfare, in wildlife health and management of both captive and free living populations.
- Show understanding of the most widely used ethical frameworks (Five Freedoms and Three Rs) and how ethical decisions are made in wildlife management and health, including awareness of stakeholder positions and conflicts, and understanding of professional ethics relevant to wildlife professionals.
- Demonstrate a knowledge of regulatory law (including how it relates to wild animals), anti-cruelty law, the concept of ‘duty of care’ as they apply to wild animals, and the role of different parties in upholding and enforcing these.
- Synthesise and effectively communicate information, analysis, arguments and conclusions.
- Critically appraise problems in global wildlife health and management and show originality in applying knowledge offer solutions.
Teaching Information
This unit will be taught using a blended learning approach. This will include short lectures, group workshops, , self-guided learning, interactive sessions, and guest workshops.
Assessment Information
Assessment will be by two summative assignments (50%, 50%) supported by formative feedback. One will be in the form of a written coursework assignment, and the other a powerpoint presentation.
Reading and References
- Alcock, J. (2009). Animal Behavior: an evolutionary approach (9th Edition) Sinauer Associates.
- Appleby, M.C., Hughes, B.O., Mench, J.A. Olsson, A. 2011. Animal Welfare (2nd ed). CABI Publishing.
- Appleby, M.C., Sandoe, P. & Weary, D.M. 2014. Dilemmas in Animal Welfare. CABI Publishing.
- Barnard, C. (2004). Animal Behaviour: Mechanisms, Development, Function and Evolution. Pearson Education.
- Blumstein, D.T. and Fernandez-Juricic, E. (2010). A primer of conservation behaviour. Sinauer Associates.
- Broom, D. M. and Johnson K. G. 1993. Stress and Animal Welfare. Chapman and Hall, London.
- Butterworth, A. (ed). 2017. Marine Mammal Welfare - Human Induced Change in the Marine Environment and its Impacts on Marine Mammal Welfare. Springer International Publishing.
- Butterworth, A. (ed). 2018. Animal Welfare in a Changing World. CABI Publishing.
- Davies, N.B., Krebs, J.R. and West, S.A. (2012). An Introduction to Behavioural Ecology (4th Edition) Wiley.
- Dawkins, M. S. 1981. Animal Suffering: the Science of Animal Welfare. Chapman and Hall, London.
- Gosling, L. M. & Sutherland, W. J. 2000. Behaviour and Conservation. Cambridge University Press.Appleby, MC and Hughes BO. 1997. Animals Welfare CAB International. Wallingford, UK
- Mills, D.S. 2010. The Encyclopedia of Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare. CABI Publishing.
- Radford, M. 2001. Animal Welfare Law in Britain, Oxford University Press. Oxford.
