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If you’ve ever studied animal behaviour, you’ll know that social life is not one-size-fits-all. From solitary hunters to tightly bonded herds, the diversity of social structures across the animal kingdom is remarkable, and many species shift social roles throughout their lifetimes. It’s no surprise, then, that social structure plays a major role in animal welfare, whether in the wild or under human care. But here’s the key insight we want to explore: it’s not just the type of

Resilience has become a prominent topic in zoo and aquarium welfare science, and for good reason. For those working with animals under managed care, it's clear that it’s not just the current welfare state that matters but also how animals cope with challenges over time. This also means the animals need to be given challenges to overcome, which must be carefully designed. This blog explores what resilience means, how it aligns and differs with welfare, and how to build and me

The recent situation at Marineland in Ontario, Canada, has raised a sensitive and important question: should the euthanasia of healthy animals be part of welfare discussions? The park has stated that up to 30 beluga whales may be euthanised if alternative funding or transfers cannot be secured. This case forces us to examine a difficult issue in animal welfare science and ethics. Understanding Welfare at the Point of Death Animal welfare science has traditionally focused on t

Since 2020, a series of unusual events has captured global attention: orcas attacking and sinking boats off the Iberian Peninsula. What began as rare occurrences have evolved into a complex behavioural puzzle. This situation raises questions not only about orca cognition but also about their welfare and relationship with human activity. On May 4, 2023, three orcas sank a yacht in the Strait of Gibraltar. Then, on September 13, 2025, another group sank a yacht near Lisbon, mar