Press Release

AnimalConcepts is joyful to welcome Irma Verhoeven MA and Hannah Jenkins BSc to the team! Irma joins as an Environmental, Education and Social Architect and Hannah as a Storyteller.

Global collaboration is a fundamental value at AnimalConcepts. Irma and Hannah will play important roles in supporting and expanding our services and resources advocating for animal, human, and planetary wellbeing. AnimalConcepts is committed to the Earth Charter and greatly values the overarching principle ‘respect and care for the community of life’. We use the Earth Charter as an ethical lens to guide our decisions and work towards a just, sustainable, peaceful and ethical society. Continuing to create and embody a culture of care is core to our purpose and rooted in and based on an interconnected culture of care and respect. Our perspectives, beliefs, narratives, and expectations have an influence on how we care for ourselves, animals, and the planet. Nurturing these in a more fruitful, ...

Annual BIAZA Research Conference

Recently BIAZA held its 25th Annual Research Conference, with many talks and poster presentations from professionals from the field. Max Norman, Animal Welfare and Conservation Coordinator at AnimalConcepts attended the in-person event at Dudley Zoo & Castle in the United Kingdom.

"With a topic of Peering into the past and looking to the future it was excellent to hear much reflection on best practice and how we can do better for animals and for people for the future",  says Max Norman. 

The team at AnimalConcepts presented a poster on traditional management practices and facility design with suggested improvements in non-public animal management areas, often called “back-of-house”, in zoos, sanctuaries, and research facilities. Such improvements are integral to enclosure design that aims to optimise animal wellbeing on a 24/7 basis, promote positive affective states and enhance quality of life.

You can freely download the poster presentation HERE a...

The Akron Zoo Chapter of AAZK invites you to the 48th Annual AAZK National Conference which is taking place from 17-21 September 2023 in Akron, Ohio, USA. The conference also includes a trip to the Akron Zoo, where you'll come nose-to-nose with more than 1,000 animals from around the world, such as tigers, snow leopards, red pandas, penguins, Komodo dragons and so many more!

"The Akron Zoo Chapter of AAZK is thrilled to have Sabrina Brando join the AAZK National Conference in September of this year. The theme of this conference is focused toward 'the heart' of animal care, which lines up perfectly with AnimalConcept's purpose. With Sabrina's work in human well-being and geriatric animal care, her experiences will be an invaluable contribution to the program." says Kristen Scaglione, Conference Co-Chair.

There are also other trips possible to explore for example Cleveland Metroparks Zoo or go on safari in The Wilds. The program is fully booked with papers and posters, as well as fun a...

Short survey artificial versus natural enrichment

You can help and contribute to the growing literature, research, and best practices for animals in human care.

This survey asks about differences in using artificial or natural enrichment in zoos and aquariums. There is an ongoing discussion on which method is best, and what is most appropriate for the animal as well as guests. The results from this survey will help us determine what people who work with enrichment on a daily basis experience, which will complement the literature already written on the subject. We thank you for your participation.

Please note: This is a survey which started in 2020 and was put on hold due to COVID-19, thanks to all who have already completed it! We are doing 1 last round and writing up the results which we will share here for open access.

Click HERE to participate, thank you!

If you have any questions regarding this study, please contact Sabrina Brando at [email protected].

A new paper resulting from a collaboration between AnimalConcepts, the University Federal de Minas Gerais in Brazil, and the University of California in the USA is now available. The open-access article can be downloaded below.

The present study aimed to identify common joys and stressors experienced by zoo professionals working in a variety of roles ranging from junior animal care staff to curators. While many of those who care for non-human animals professionally identify their work to be purposeful, meaningful, and intrinsic to their calling and values, there can be downfalls to their chosen careers. Through a survey of 311 zoo and aquarium professionals, the present study identified common themes about their lack of ability to feel empowered to do their best for animal welfare. We identified a link between staff welfare and perceptions of animal welfare, highlighting areas that organisations can target to improve the ability of their staff to care for animals by taking better care...

This month on the animal wellbeing platform is all about nutrition, and we talk about food relations on the planetary wellbeing platform. How are these two topics interconnected?

Nutrition is an essential aspect to sustain healthy and active animals. A suitable diet should meet energetic requirements, prevent nutritional disorders and diseases, be safe and hygienic, and encourage natural and engaging behaviours. Nutritional needs differ between species and vary across lifespans. Animal care staff works towards ensuring adequate diet and feeding regimes are provided to the animals.

On the other hand, our global food systems are closely intertwined with planetary health, including the quality of soil, water, and global emissions. Contemporary zoos, aquaria, and other animal care facilities play an important role in the dynamics of global food systems, and are recognising their responsibility to reduce their environmental impact and promote sustainable and ethical practices.

Some of th...

Platform overviews

AnimalConcepts welcomes May with new exciting topics in all platforms!

This month on the animal wellbeing platform is all about nutrition. Nutrition is crucial in captive animal facilities, such as zoos, aquariums, and wildlife sanctuaries, as it directly impacts the health, behaviour, and welfare of the animals. We will explore nutritional needs of different species and how this impacts their wellbeing, we will also investigate feeding enrichment, as well as a holistic and sustainable approach to animal nutrition in captive environments. You can download HERE a list of freely available resources created in 2022 on this topic.

Our focus for May in the space of human wellbeing is “Real love in the workplace”. Every human being has a primal need for love, but most of us fail to realise that this need continues into the workplace. Learn more this month about the eight principles for consistently effective leadership grounded in kindness and care. You can read HERE...

Media contact: Sabrina Brando
Founder and director
AnimalConcepts
[email protected]
+34644805737

Press release

Be at your best to achieve excellence in wellbeing and conservation

Teulada, Spain (December, 22^nd) AnimalConcepts has launched a new website to help you care for animals and yourself. This includes new pages dedicated to the Practical Animal Welfare Science (PAWS) platform which launched in April this year. This platform features many of the tools you need for animal care and welfare. It also includes individual and organisational care, so animals and people can flourish.

“The worldwide platform brings us together in ways most other organisations don’t, or can’t. What AnimalConcepts does is so important!" said Darren Minier, Assistant Director of Oakland Zoo. Navigating the sea of animal care and welfare information is a challenge that can leave you feeling overwhelmed and frustrated, where do you start? Animal care and veterinary professionals, students, resear...

Wellbeing for you and your animals is too important not to get right

At AnimalConcepts we help you be at your best to achieve excellence in animal care and welfare. The Practical Animal Welfare Science 'PAWS' platform, is the first e-learning platform combining human and animal wellbeing science and practice. It allows you to get the education and continuous personal development (CPD) opportunities as well as tools and practical resources you need so you and your animals can flourish.

Navigating the sea of animal care and welfare information, and caring for yourself while giving care to others is a challenge that can leave you feeling overwhelmed and frustrated, where do you start?

"My vision is that the PAWS platform is one of the go-to resources that animal care professionals can use to learn, engage, and enjoy in our collective commitment to serving and caring for animals and for ourselves. See it as a short of wellness atlas where you can find all kinds of information on a wide ...