Projects
Wild Animal Welfare
People: Charlotte Burn, Siobhan Abeyesinghe, Troy Gibson, Maria Diez Leon
We run various projects on wild animals, ranging from great apes to sunbears. These include projects that form part of the MScs in Wild Animal Biology and Health. Our work also includes looking into ways wildlife is managed and control, including the asking questions on the the humaneness of different culling methods for 'pests'.
Dogs - Breeding for Good Welfare
People: Charlotte Burn, Rowena Packer, Anke Hendricks, Holger Volk, Natalie Chancellor
Extreme body shapes can cause debilitating conditions, from breathing difficulties to agonising slipped discs, and from irritated wrinkly skin to eye ulcers. Our research highlights the need for breeding strategies that safeguard the welfare of these companion animals.
Ethics of assisted reproductive techniques in non-human mammals
People: Madeleine Campbell
A three-year Wellcome trust funded fellowship investigating bioethical decision making surrounding the use of assisted reproductive techniques in nonhuman mammals.
Perception, cognition and social behaviour in chickens
People: Siobhan Abeyesinghe
Chickens are the world's most numerous captive species. This body of research aims to understand the - often complex - cognitive and perceptual abilities of chickens and learn more about their social lives by effectively asking them questions . This is crucial to discovering how husbandry and management can impact on chicken welfare as well as informing legislation and societal acceptability of welfare standards.
Pet Rabbit Welfare
People: Charlotte Burn
Rabbits are the third most popular pet in the UK, yet they are classed as 'exotic' animals in veterinary medicine, and their welfare is little researched. PDSA reports highlight numerous welfare problems, including that two thirds of rabbits are housed alone, despite being social animals. This new research area investigates rabbit social needs and aims to refine the way they are kept and bred.
Ethics of evidence based veterinary medicine
People: Madeleine Campbell, David Mills, Adrian Boswood
Evidence based veterinary medicine (EBVM) has the potential to make a significant contribution to improvements in veterinary and human health. However, unless they are addressed, hitherto under-explored ethical and societal dimensions to EBVM will limit this contribution. Madeleine Campbell and David Mills are working to elucidate such ethical and societal issues, and propose possible solutions to them.