Wildlife

Wild Animal Capture for Research Welfare

Capturing wild animals for research, tagging, or monitoring purposes involves welfare costs that require ethical justification and minimisation.

Key Facts

Common capture methods include traps, mist nets, and chemical immobilisation
Capture myopathy can kill animals through muscle breakdown from stress and exertion
Tagging and tracking devices affect behaviour and survival if not appropriately sized
Home Office licences are required for regulated wildlife research in the UK
The 3Rs (Replace, Reduce, Refine) framework applies to wildlife research

Welfare Considerations

Every capture event causes acute stress, risk of injury, and potential for capture myopathy. Research design should apply the 3Rs: replacing capture with non-invasive alternatives where possible, reducing capture frequency and sample sizes, and refining methods to minimise harm. Device attachment should be no more than 3-5% of body weight and regularly reviewed for effects on behaviour.

What You Can Do

Support wildlife research that demonstrates rigorous welfare minimisation
Advocate for mandatory welfare review of wildlife research protocols
Learn about ethical frameworks for wildlife research
Support development of non-invasive alternatives to capture-based monitoring
Engage with public consultations on wildlife research regulation