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PANGOLIN
But Miller firmly believes that it’s not the lead on: one that is monitoring the
enough to measure negative indicators of welfare of 41 chimpanzees across 16 zoos
animal welfare, but rather, that we should in North America, and a recently launched
also focus on positive indicators of welfare, study that is looking at how physical
which show that animals truly are thriving. habitat, environmental enrichment, and
animal training impact the welfare
For example, Staley led a literature of cetaceans (dolphins, porpoises, and
review published earlier this year on whales) in zoos and aquariums worldwide.
Immunoglobulin A—known as IgA for This study is taking place across 44
short—that highlights how measuring this accredited facilities in seven countries, and
antibody can give researchers an idea of includes data from approximately 290
how well an animal's immune system is common and Indo-Pacific bottlenose
functioning. In short, higher levels of IgA dolphins, 20 beluga whales, and
typically mean a better-functioning eight Pacific white-sided dolphins.
immune system, which is a good indicator
that an animal is thriving. The endocrinol- Both of these studies have a large
ogy team has begun to incorporate this as behavioral component—researchers
one of their regular measurements. are analyzing video-taped segments of
the animals in their habitats to observe
Often, the hormonal data can be used patterns or changes to their behavior
in conjunction with animal behavior over time. But they also include
studies to create a comprehensive and analyzing daily fecal samples from the
more complete picture of animal welfare. participating animals. The chimpanzee
This is the basis of two multi-institutional welfare study, which began in 2015, was
studies that the Society is currently taking the first time that the endocrinology
lab began testing levels of IgA. The
laboratory has also been working hard
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