Miriam A. Zemanova: Animal Ethics in Wildlife Research

Link for online meeting: https://unibas.zoom.us/j/65592496532
Public lecture, free entry

We are living in a time of rapid ecological disruption, marked by biodiversity loss and accelerating extinction. In response, ecologists, conservation biologists, and wildlife researchers study species distribution, population dynamics, or gene flow – data essential for guiding effective conservation strategies. However, traditional approaches in wildlife research have prioritized the protection of populations, species, and ecosystems, often at the expense of the welfare of individual animals. This talk will examine the ethical implications of this tension, exploring how individual animals are considered in field research. It will introduce common research practices that can negatively impact animal wellbeing as well as emerging approaches designed to minimize harm. In this context, wellbeing refers to the recognition of animals as autonomous beings with interests in living physically, mentally, and socially healthy lives. The talk will also outline practical strategies for ethically responsible wildlife research, including ways to conceive of animals as research participants rather than mere data points.

Miriam A. Zemanova received her PhD. in Ecology and Evolution at the University of Bern and completed postdoctoral fellowships at the Department of Philosophy at the University of Basel and the Centre for Compassionate Conservation at the University of Technology Sydney. She is currently based at the Environmental Sciences and Humanities Institute at the University of Fribourg in Switzerland. Her main research interests include wild animal welfare, animal research ethics, and the implementation of the 3Rs principles and non-invasive methods in wildlife research.
She is the author of the informational website https://3RsWildlife.info.

For more information visit https://miriamzemanova.com.

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