As an MRes Biodiversity Conservation student at Nottingham Trent University, my research focuses on how environmental enrichment influences the behaviour and welfare of great apes at Twycross Zoo. When I attended the LIFT COST Action workshop, “Lifting animal lives – how best to move forward in the field of positive animal welfare,” at the Royal Veterinary College in London, I was looking forward to learning more about positive animal welfare and connecting with researchers working in the field.
Although much of the workshop centred on farm animal welfare, I quickly realised that many of the ideas were just as relevant to my own research. One message that really stayed with me was that positive welfare is about much more than simply avoiding poor welfare. Instead, it is about creating opportunities for animals to experience positive states and to have more choice and control over their lives. That simple shift in perspective made me think differently about how we assess animal welfare.
I also found the discussions around assessing positive welfare particularly interesting. The speakers explored ideas such as animal choice and agency, play, affective states and behavioural indicators, while recognising the challenge of translating these concepts into practical welfare assessment. It was encouraging to see how much collaboration is taking place to move the field forward and to develop methods that can make a real difference for animals.
As someone who spends many hours observing great apes, the workshop gave me a broader perspective on my own research. Rather than thinking only about whether enrichment changes behaviour, I found myself asking a different question: what do these behaviours tell us about the animals’ experiences? It reminded me that behavioural observations are not just data points, they can help us better understand an animal’s quality of life.
Another highlight was meeting researchers from different countries and career stages who all shared a genuine passion for improving animal welfare. As an early-career researcher, it was reassuring to be part of such an open and welcoming community. The conversations during the breaks were just as valuable as the presentations, and I left feeling inspired and motivated to continue developing my career in animal behaviour and welfare science.
I would like to thank the LIFT COST Action for organising such an engaging workshop and for welcoming researchers from different backgrounds. It was a valuable opportunity to learn, exchange ideas and reflect on my own work. I left London with fresh perspectives that I know will stay with me throughout my research and beyond.
