Table 6.
Summary of the information provided in the user's manual for assessing environmental domain.
| Indicator | Method | Reference | Scoring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Substrate (RBM) | Observe the substrate of the enclosure and compare it with the typical natural environment of the species (features to consider: level of compaction, texture, hardness and temperature of the material, undulations and unevenness). If available, check the reference substrate requirements for the species in the husbandry manual. | Is the substrate suitable for the animal to rest comfortably and exhibit species-specific behaviors? | A: the substrate is suitable for the animal to rest comfortably and deploy species-specific behaviors. B: the substrate is inappropriate for the animal to rest comfortably or may prevent the manifestation of any species-specific behaviors. C: the substrate is inappropriate for the animal to rest comfortably and/or could prevent the manifestation of several species-specific behaviors. |
| Temperature/humidity/ ventilation (RBM) |
Observe the conditions offered in the enclosure and compare them with the climatic characteristics of the ancestral environment of the species (features to consider: sources of heat or cold, shade and sun, and bathing facilities (e.g., water, mud or other). If the enclosure has a controlled system for temperature, humidity and ventilation, or if you have a device to measure these parameters, check and record the values. If available, check the reference temperature, humidity and ventilation requirements for the species in the husbandry manual. | Are the enclosure conditions adequate to allow the animal to maintain thermal comfort? | A: the enclosure presents conditions that allow maintaining an adequate thermal comfort in all its aspects. B: one of the aspects of the enclosure is deficient to maintain adequate thermal comfort without threatening the life of the animal. C: two or more of the aspects of the enclosure are deficient to maintain adequate thermal comfort, or only one aspect is deficient in a way that puts the animal's life at risk. |
| Lighting (RBM) | Observe the lighting of the enclosure and compare it with the typical natural environment of the species. If available, check the reference lighting requirements for the species in the husbandry manual. | Does the lighting in the enclosure respect the circadian cycle, the number of hours of light/darkness characteristic of the natural environment of the species and does it not affect or hinder vision or generate somatic disorders? Is the amount of sunlight entering the enclosure adequate according to the characteristics of the natural environment of the species? | A: natural and artificial lighting is suitable for the species. B: one of the components to be considered is not appropriate, without putting the animal's life at risk. C: two or more of the components to be considered are deficient, or only one is deficient but puts the animal's life at risk. |
| Enclosure maintenance (RBM) | Observe the maintenance conditions of the enclosure (features to consider: defects in the structure of the enclosure that may cause damage to the animals, poisonous plants within reach, exposure to electrical appliances or poorly protected electrical outlets, vegetation that could fall and cause damage, entry of disease-carrying animals or pests such as rodents). | Does the condition in which the enclosure is maintained pose no risk to the health and welfare of the animal or third parties? | A: the enclosure is in good maintenance conditions. B: there are some defects in the maintenance of the enclosure, which do not directly endanger the lives of animals or people. C: there are many defects in the maintenance of the enclosure and/or the defective feature(s) put the life of animals or people at direct risk. |
| Enclosure hygiene (RBM) | Observe the hygiene of the enclosure (features to consider: spoiled food, stagnant water, accumulation of feces and urine and dead animals). Consider that excess hygiene can also be detrimental (inadequate for the species or in higher concentration than recommended or with higher frequency than recommended). If available, check the recommended chemical types, concentration and frequency for the species (husbandry manual). | Is the enclosure maintained in adequate hygienic conditions? Are the chemicals used adequate in type and concentration? Is the frequency of cleaning adequate? | A: The enclosure is in good hygienic conditions and the cleaning routine is adequate for the species. B: there are some defects in the hygiene of the enclosure, which do not put the health of animals or people at direct risk. C: there are many defects in the hygiene of the enclosure and/or the defective feature(s) puts the health of animals or people at direct risk. |
| Enclosure dimensions (RBM) | Request the enclosure outline and verify that the declared dimensions match the actual dimensions. Take the necessary measurements and record the dimensions of the enclosure. When answering the reference question consider that the animal should be able to express the full repertoire of locomotor movements of their species, including running, climbing, flying or swimming at speed. If more than one individual is housed in the same enclosure, consider the number of animals per surface area. If available, check the reference requirements for the species (husbandry manual). | Do the dimensions of the enclosure allow the animal to move freely? Do they comply with the minimum space requirements stated in the husbandry manuals per individual? | A: the dimensions comply with existing recommendations and are adequate for the animal to move freely and express the full locomotor repertoire of its species. B: the dimensions allow the animal to move freely but hinder the expression of the full locomotor repertoire of its species and are below those recommended. C: dimensions do not allow the animal to move freely and/or impede the expression of the full locomotor repertoire of its species and are below those recommended. |
| Environmental complexity (RBM) | Observe the disposition of different areas and elements within the enclosure. Consider feeding and elimination zones, characteristics of the environment, land/water/air space ratio, implements for the vertical use of space. For an accurate evaluation of welfare it is essential to distinguish it from environmental enrichment. | Does the design of the enclosure allow for species-specific behaviors as well as differential use of each part of the space? | A: the design of the enclosure allows for differential use of each part of the space as well as the occurrence of all species-specific behaviors. B: the design of the enclosure allows differential use of each part of the space as well as the occurrence of most species-specific behaviors. C: the enclosure design does not allow differential use of each part of the space and/or prevents the occurrence of several of the species-specific behaviors. |
| Surrounding enclosures (RBM) | Observe the surrounding enclosures (features to consider: presence of visual barriers, pray, predators or competitors housed in adjacent enclosures and distance between enclosures). | Does the housing layout and design minimize stressful situations with animals in adjacent enclosures or loose animals? | A: the layout and design of the housing are adequate to minimize stressful situations with animals in adjacent enclosures or loose animals. B: only one of the features to be considered is deficient. C: two or more of the features to be considered are deficient. |
| Shelter availability (RBM) | Observe the existence, availability and adequacy of shelters for various weather conditions. | Do the animals have shelters to protect them from adverse weather conditions? | A: shelters provide full protection from inclement weather. B: shelters provide partial protection from inclement weather. C: shelters do not provide protection from inclement weather or there is no shelter or repair. |
| Public (RBM) | Observe the possibility of hiding from the public (features to consider: visual barriers, impediments for direct contact; first, second and third level barriers; free access to confinement areas). | Does the housing layout and design minimize stressful situations for the animal generated by the public? | A: the layout and design of the housing are adequate to minimize stressful situations with humans. B: only one of the features to be considered is deficient. C: two or more of the features to be considered are deficient. |
| Group composition (RBM) | Observe group composition, ALWAYS record in “observations”: number of adults (clarifying the sex of each one), juveniles (sex) and young, number of species and individuals in the same enclosure. If the enclosure is shared with another species, consider if this association is adequate for the species you are working with. (Features to consider:gregarious/solitary, number of individuals, proportion of males/females and offspring) | Is the group composition representative of the species? | A: the composition of the group is representative of the species in all features. B: the gregarious/solitary condition of the species is respected but one or more of the other features to be considered is deficient. C: the gregarious/solitary condition of the species is not respected and/or two or more of the other features to be considered are deficient. |
| Environmental choice and control opportunities (RBM) | Examine the enclosure and assess whether it offers the animals opportunities for control and choice. Consider: opportunities for choice of display or concealment, shade or sun, heat or cold, companionship or solitude, need to alternate exit to the main exhibit, access to the main exhibit during peak periods of the day—species with nocturnal or crepuscular habits, isolation from stressors derived from cleaning, maintenance and repair maneuvers. | Does the enclosure design allow the animal to choose where to be or what to do 24 h a day? | A: the design of the enclosure allows the animal to choose where to be or what to do, in all its aspects, during 24 h of the day. B: the enclosure design allows the animal to choose where to be or what to do, in various aspects, during at least the most active period of the day for the species. C: the enclosure design allows the animal to choose where to be or what to do in few or none of its aspects and/or opportunities for choice and control are present only during the period of the day of least activity for the species. |
| Management choice and control opportunities (MBM) | Interview staff and assess whether the management offers animals opportunities for control and choice. Consider all the aspects mentioned in “Environmental choice and control opportunities” | Does management allow the animal to choose where to be or what to do 24 h a day? | A: management allows the animal to choose where to be or what to do, in all its aspects, 24 h a day. B: management allows the animal to choose where to be or what to do, in several of its aspects, during at least the most active period of the day for the species. C: management allows the animal to choose where to be or what to do, in few or none of its aspects, and/or opportunities for choice and control are present only during the period of the day of least activity for the species. |
| Environmental enrichment (MBM) | Interview staff, check documentary records and verify the implementation of an appropriate and comprehensive environmental enrichment (EE) program. Consider anything that is not fixed or does not remain the same in the animal's environment, but can be placed and removed on a daily basis. For an accurate evaluation of welfare it is essential to distinguish it from environmental complexity. | Is there a formal, written EE program in place and implemented to promote species-specific behavioral opportunities and psychological well-being? Does it include nutritional, social, sensory, cognitive, and occupational environmental enrichment? | A: an EE plan/program is implemented according to a formal, written outline that promotes behavioral opportunities and psychological well-being and all steps are followed, including analysis of the animal's response to EE, as well as the various types of EE. B: an EE plan/schedule is implemented but no observation or analysis of the animal's response to EE is performed, or EEs does not go through an approval process from all areas (veterinary, biology, behavior, nutrition and keepers), or any of the types of EE mentioned in the question are not implemented. C: no EE is performed or it is only performed by the individual will of the keeper or volunteers, without an official plan by the institution. |
| Training procedures (MBM) | Interview staff, check documentary records and verify the implementation of a comprehensive and appropriate training plan. | Is there a formal, written animal training plan in place for the animal? | A: training for veterinary and handling maneuvers, cognitive enrichment, strengthening of the human-animal bond and animal exercise is carried out by duly trained personnel, using validated techniques, with a formal, written plan, and in the case of dangerous species, without direct contact between trainer and animal. B: only training for veterinary and handling maneuvers is carried out by duly trained personnel, using validated techniques, without direct contact between trainer and animal in the case of dangerous species, with a formal, written plan. C: training is not carried out and/or is carried out by inadequately trained personnel and/or by means of techniques with doubtful results and/or with direct contact between trainer and animal in the case of dangerous species and/or without a formal and written plan. |
RBM, Resources-based measurement; MBM, Management-based measurements.