Authors: Zemanova, Miriam;

Wildlife research remains crucial for increasing our knowledge and improving species management and conservation amid the current biodiversity crisis. However, obtaining information on population status often involves the invasive or lethal sampling of a certain number of individual animals. Marking and sampling practices include taking blood and tissue samples, toe-clipping of amphibians and rodents, or using implants and radio transmitters – all of which are techniques that might negatively affect the animal. Wildlife research may then result in a fundamental conflict between individual animal welfare and the welfare of the population or ecosystem that would be achieved through conservation. This conflict could be significantly reduced if non-invasive and non-lethal research practices were more broadly applied. In this talk, I will provide an overview of the most common research practices and discuss the potential animal welfare issues associated with them. I will then outline guidelines on available non-invasive research alternatives, which can contribute to both improved data collection and minimized impact on animal welfare. I will also discuss the role of animal welfare science and the 3Rs principles for animal use (Replace, Reduce, Refine) in guiding responsible research in conservation biology.