MSc Thesis: Cognitive bias as a method of pain assessment following hot-iron dehorning of dairy calves
MSc student Heather Neave’s paper on assessing pain before and after calf de-horning is now available for download. Abstract: Pain is one of the most highly studied emotions in animals, and the interaction between pain and cognitive processes is well documented in humans. Recent research has attempted to use changes in cognitive processes as a method […]
Thesis from MSc student Meghann Cant on rehabilitation of black bears
Abstract: Throughout the year, black bear (Ursus americanus) cubs are orphaned, abandoned, or permanently separated from their mothers due to natural or human causes. Although cubs have been the focus of limited rehabilitation efforts in North America for more than 30 years, information on bear rehabilitation remains sparse. Furthermore, a lack of agreement exists regarding the […]
New paper published on human-wildlife conflict features BC ‘pot’ bears
The story of the BC ‘pot’ bears became international news in summer 2010 – now PhD student Sara Dubois has recently published her 2011 community survey of Christina Lake residents in an article in the journal Animals. The two-phase phone survey of local attitudes documented varying beliefs about wildlife feeding and management actions for problem […]
Ph.D. student Gosia Zobel wins prize for best presentation
Gosia Zobel, a PhD student in UBC’s Animal Welfare Program, took home the coveted award for best student presentation at the University of Guelph’s 6th Annual Animal Welfare Symposium. Gosia’s presentation discussed emerging health and welfare issues for dairy goats. Her energetic and simple presentation style earned the audience’s approval.
Dairy crew gathers to wish Katy farewell
Katy Proudfoot is completing her PhD research and leaving the UBC Dairy Farm. Last week Katy gave a farewell seminar at the UBC Dairy Centre. Team members (photo below) gathered to wish her well. In the photo (starting at the left side of the front row): Rolnei Rua Daros, Cristiano Ramos, William Costa, Augusto Madureira, Eraldo Drago Filho, Kathrin Louise Proudfoot […]
Liv Baker’s research featured in interview
PhD student Liv Baker has been interested in the welfare concerns that arise from the management of threatened species and the use of animal welfare research methods to improve conservation concerns. She was recently interviewed by WSPA (World Society for the Protection of Animals) about her research and the role of animal welfare and sentience […]
AWP Students Split First Prize in Student Competition
For the first time ever students were able to give short, practical talks about their research at Western Canadian Dairy Seminar. These talks were judged by a panel of experts who decided to award the first place prize to both Gosia Zobel and Katy Proudfoot – two PhD students in the UBC Animal Welfare Program!
AWP Students Chosen to Present at Western Canadian Dairy Seminar
PhD students Katy Proudfoot and Gosia Zobel are two of only four students selected from across Canada to compete in the Western Canadian Dairy Seminar’s first ever graduate student oral competition. The aim of these talks is for students to present their research in a way producers will find applicable and meaningful to their daily […]
Greatest Harms to Wildlife
Sara Dubois, PhD candidate’s recent article [link] surveying BC wildlife experts and the public, showed that both conservation-oriented and welfare-oriented participants agreed on the greatest harms to wildlife – urban development, pollution, resource development, and agriculture. Despite divisions in philosophy and professional practice, there was broad agreement on ranking activities that harm wildlife, indicating wildlife […]
Exploring “Humane” Dimensions of Wildlife
New article in Human Dimensions of Wildlife by AWP PhD Candidate Sara Dubois calls for a new “humane” dimension in wildlife management.