| Abstract: |
Wildlife rescue centres house a wide range of species, posing significant challenges to ensuring consistent standards of animal welfare. This study focused on the white-fronted capuchin monkey (Cebus albifrons) and developed two welfare assessment protocols: a daily monitoring checklist and a more comprehensive audit protocol. The Delphi technique-a widely used method for building expert consensus-was employed to identify, evaluate, and prioritise welfare indicators. A panel of 23 primate care experts participated in two Delphi rounds, leading to the validation of 28 indicators for the extended protocol and 10 for daily application. These included animal-based indicators-such as signs of pain, affiliative behaviours, and abnormal repetitive behaviours-as well as resource- and management-based indicators, including appropriate food provision, physical enrichment, and habitat dimensions. Although resource- and management-based indicators were more numerous and valued for their practicality in identifying underlying causes and risk factors, the highest-ranked indicators across both protocols were animal-based. These tools provide structured and adaptable strategies to support both daily care routines and drive long-term welfare improvements in rescue settings. Furthermore, they highlight the importance of integrating welfare assessment into conservation and rehabilitation efforts. Future research should focus on field-testing these tools, validating their reliability, and promoting evaluator consistency. Wildlife rescue centres face considerable challenges in promoting animal welfare and enhancing the care and housing conditions of animals under professional supervision. These challenges are further compounded by the diversity of species admitted, each with distinct specific needs. In Colombia and other Latin American countries, primates are among the most frequently rescued and behaviourally complex mammalian taxa, requiring particular attention. In response, this study aimed to assess the content validity of proposed animal welfare indicators for Cebus albifrons through a Delphi consultation process and to develop two species-specific assessment protocols: a daily-use tool for keepers and a comprehensive protocol for professional audits. A panel of 23 experts in primate care and rehabilitation participated in two consultation rounds to evaluate and prioritise the indicators based on their content validity, perceived reliability, and practicality. Indicators were classified as either animal-based (direct measures) or resource- and management-based (indirect measures). After each round, experts received summarised feedback to refine their responses and facilitate consensus building. Of the 39 initially proposed indicators, 28 were validated for inclusion in the extended protocol and 10 selected for the daily-use checklist. Among these, 20 indicators in the extended protocol and 6 in the daily protocol were resource- or management-based-such as adequate food provision, physical enrichment, and habitat dimensions-highlighting their practical applicability and relevance in identifying welfare issues and risk factors. Although these indirect indicators were more numerous, the top-ranked indicators in both protocols were animal-based, including signs of pain, affiliative behaviours, and abnormal repetitive behaviours. These are essential for accurately reflecting the animals' welfare state and are therefore critical components of welfare assessment in captive non-human primates. This study demonstrates that welfare assessment tools can be effectively tailored to the specific needs of wildlife rescue centres, providing a robust foundation for enhancing welfare practices. These protocols not only offer practical approaches for assessing welfare but also underscore the importance of embedding animal welfare as a priority alongside conservation efforts. Future research should aim to refine these tools further, assess their implementation, and evaluate inter- and intra-observer reliability to ensure consistency across different settings. |
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(Universidad de La Salle)
