Dolphin wet: New system for the well-being of dolphins in the zoo

Dolphin wet: New system for the well-being of dolphins in the zoo

In recent years, the importance of animal welfare in zoological institutions has increased enormously. A new development in the field of dolphin protection could now have far -reaching effects on practice in zoos and aquariums. Scientifically well -founded evaluation instruments play a crucial role here.

an innovative tool for the dolphin welfare

The newly developed Dolphin-Wet (Dolphin Welfare Evaluation Tool) enables zoological facilities to systematically check the well-being of dolphins. Various organizations, including the Nuremberg Zoo and International Partner, have worked intensively on the development. Dr. Katrin Baumgartner, who works as a zoo veterinarian at the Nuremberg Tiergarten, explains: "We now collect data on physical and psychological aspects of the well -being of the dolphins from a scientific perspective."

The five principles of well -being

The rating system is divided into five main categories: animal health, nutrition, behavior, accommodation and state of mind. These categories enable experts not only to evaluate the status quo, but also to pursue changes over time. Due to the early detection of the smallest changes, targeted measures can be taken to optimize the well -being of the animals.

a comprehensive data collection

The development of the Dolphin-Wet is based on extensive data that has been collected on behaviors, physiology and reproduction of dolphins since the early 1990s. In cooperation with an international group of experts, 49 indicators were defined to enable an objective assessment of the dolphins in human care.

The meaning for the future of dolphin protection

The new approach could not only have an impact on the farm conditions in zoos and aquariums, but also make a valuable contribution to research into health challenges that threaten wild dolphin populations. Dr. Lorenzo von Hersen, curator for species protection and research at the Tiergarten Nuremberg, emphasizes: "With the Dolphin-Wet, we can collect valuable data that helps us to better understand and react the challenges in the field of species protection."

preparatory work and international cooperation

The intensive cooperation at national and international level is a trademark of working in scientifically managed zoos. The Tiergarten Nuremberg and its partners have dealt with the improvement of the farm conditions for dolphins since 2012, and the publication of the Dolphin-Wet is another step in this direction. Experts from different disciplines, including veterinary medicine and biology, made a significant contribution to animal welfare.

outlook and further development

The introduction of the Dolphin-WET app not only offers a practical solution for the documentation and evaluation of the observation data, but also promotes an interactive learning platform for experts who work in zoos. "We hope that this tool not only deepens our knowledge of dolphins, but also inspires other facilities to introduce similar standards," says Baumgartner at the end.

The newly published scientific paper on this development, "Dolphin-Wet-Development of a Welfare Evaluation Tool for Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops Truncatus) Under Human Care", offers detailed insights into the method and its application.