Development of a protocol for assessing psittacine welfare: first steps

Abstract

Welfare assessment protocols are practical tools that aim to standardize and facilitate the assessment of animal welfare in different contexts, based on scientifically validated indicators. The development of specific protocols that assess the natural behavior of different species and their relationship with the environment is important for improving the quality of life of wild animals in captivity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to develop a protocol for assessing the welfare of psittacines in captivity based on the principles and criteria of the Welfare Quality® Protocol. The specific objectives were to: a) compile a series of psittacine welfare indicators into an assessment tool; b) evaluate the feasibility of the protocol by applying it in two different locations. The protocol was finalized with a total of 71 questions, 19 of which are part of the management questionnaire, 32 are environmental-based measurements and 20 are animal-based. The measurements cover management, feeding, health, physical condition and behavior. After the applications in both locations, the protocol was critically evaluated and modified. The protocol was regarded as feasible and easy to interpret, and can be used as a tool for assessing the welfare of captive psittacines, evaluating different aspects of welfare. The validation of the protocol and the reliability of the measures should be carried out in future studies.