Validation of indicators for the welfare assessment of captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis)
The Five Domains model (FDM) is a widely accepted framework for developing welfare assessment tools across various contexts, including wild animals under human care. However, only two protocols have been developed for captive cetaceans. This study aimed to create a welfare assessment protocol based...
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Cambridge University Press
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Animal Welfare |
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| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0962728625000193/type/journal_article |
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| author | Sara Platto Agathe Serres Simona C. Normando Xavier Manteca Deborah Temple Yujiang Hao |
| author_facet | Sara Platto Agathe Serres Simona C. Normando Xavier Manteca Deborah Temple Yujiang Hao |
| author_sort | Sara Platto |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Five Domains model (FDM) is a widely accepted framework for developing welfare assessment tools across various contexts, including wild animals under human care. However, only two protocols have been developed for captive cetaceans. This study aimed to create a welfare assessment protocol based on the FDM for captive Yangtze finless porpoises (YFPs; Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis). Indicators relevant to YFPs’ welfare were selected via a literature review, and validated through two consecutive questionnaire surveys, four discussions with a panel of three experts, and a blind review conducted by three additional cetacean welfare experts. This process resulted in the validation of 46 welfare indicators, which were used to develop the Yangtze Finless Porpoise-Welfare Assessment Protocol (YFP-WAP) which, in its final version, contains 150 indicators. Moreover, intensity levels (the degree of impact of each indicator on the porpoises’ welfare), valence (whether the indicator contributed positively or negatively to the porpoises’ welfare state), and mental states associated with each indicator were also assigned by the panels of experts. Additionally, a confidence score was assigned to each indicator’s intensity level, valence, and mental state that reflected experts’ level of uncertainty regarding the indicator impact on the YFPs’ welfare. This rigorous validation process provided transparency, helped ensure minimal bias, and reduced the likelihood of incorrect indicator elimination due to expert subjectivity. By integrating expert knowledge, the YFP-WAP provides a comprehensive approach to evaluating both positive and negative welfare states, supporting the ongoing care and management of YFPs in captivity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a7f5802eb5344695941ef1982569e4dc |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 0962-7286 2054-1538 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
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| series | Animal Welfare |
| spelling | doaj-art-a7f5802eb5344695941ef1982569e4dc2025-08-20T02:25:37ZengCambridge University PressAnimal Welfare0962-72862054-15382025-01-013410.1017/awf.2025.19Validation of indicators for the welfare assessment of captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis)Sara Platto0https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2617-6467Agathe Serres1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2279-9143Simona C. Normando2https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3978-1487Xavier Manteca3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2061-4179Deborah Temple4https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1776-5718Yujiang Hao5https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1040-5776Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences, Jianghan University, Wuhan, PR ChinaSanya Key Laboratory of Marine Mammal and Marine Bioacoustics, Institute of Deep-sea Science and Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Sanya, PR ChinaDepartment of Comparative Biomedicine and Food Science, University of Padua, 35020 Padua, ItalyDepartment of Animal and Food Science, College of Veterinary Sciences, Universtat Autonoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainAWEC, Edifici Eureka, Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, SpainInstitute of Hydrobiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan, Hubei, PR ChinaThe Five Domains model (FDM) is a widely accepted framework for developing welfare assessment tools across various contexts, including wild animals under human care. However, only two protocols have been developed for captive cetaceans. This study aimed to create a welfare assessment protocol based on the FDM for captive Yangtze finless porpoises (YFPs; Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis). Indicators relevant to YFPs’ welfare were selected via a literature review, and validated through two consecutive questionnaire surveys, four discussions with a panel of three experts, and a blind review conducted by three additional cetacean welfare experts. This process resulted in the validation of 46 welfare indicators, which were used to develop the Yangtze Finless Porpoise-Welfare Assessment Protocol (YFP-WAP) which, in its final version, contains 150 indicators. Moreover, intensity levels (the degree of impact of each indicator on the porpoises’ welfare), valence (whether the indicator contributed positively or negatively to the porpoises’ welfare state), and mental states associated with each indicator were also assigned by the panels of experts. Additionally, a confidence score was assigned to each indicator’s intensity level, valence, and mental state that reflected experts’ level of uncertainty regarding the indicator impact on the YFPs’ welfare. This rigorous validation process provided transparency, helped ensure minimal bias, and reduced the likelihood of incorrect indicator elimination due to expert subjectivity. By integrating expert knowledge, the YFP-WAP provides a comprehensive approach to evaluating both positive and negative welfare states, supporting the ongoing care and management of YFPs in captivity.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0962728625000193/type/journal_articleanimal welfareFive Domains modelmental statewelfare assessment protocolYangtze finless porpoises |
| spellingShingle | Sara Platto Agathe Serres Simona C. Normando Xavier Manteca Deborah Temple Yujiang Hao Validation of indicators for the welfare assessment of captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) Animal Welfare animal welfare Five Domains model mental state welfare assessment protocol Yangtze finless porpoises |
| title | Validation of indicators for the welfare assessment of captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) |
| title_full | Validation of indicators for the welfare assessment of captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) |
| title_fullStr | Validation of indicators for the welfare assessment of captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Validation of indicators for the welfare assessment of captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) |
| title_short | Validation of indicators for the welfare assessment of captive Yangtze finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis) |
| title_sort | validation of indicators for the welfare assessment of captive yangtze finless porpoises neophocaena asiaeorientalis asiaeorientalis |
| topic | animal welfare Five Domains model mental state welfare assessment protocol Yangtze finless porpoises |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0962728625000193/type/journal_article |
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