WFS 461Animal Welfare: Science and Ethics

3 credits · Wildlife and Fisheries Science · Penn State

Understanding animal welfare and well-being in farmed, wild and captive animals, and the implications for policy, legislation and conservation. Whether we interact with farmed animals, wild animals in natural settings, or captive reared wild animals bred for research or for re-introductions, there is a growing interest in their welfare. What do animals need to manifest good welfare and well-being? To find answers we need to devise experiments that determine what animals want and what they find aversive. This allows us to find ways to decrease fear and stress associated with handling and captivity. This course covers the practical issues of animal welfare; animal ethics in wildlife management, conservation, and agriculture; and the use of animals in research. The course provides a framework with which to consider philosophical positions on animal use (covering aspects such as rights-based views versus utilitarian views) and the history of ethical debate over the interactions that humans have with other species. The course also addresses the current social, economic, and legal developments related to animal welfare and animal ethics.