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Zoo Animal Welfare

MSU also offers courses which deal in part with animal welfare in the zoo and aquarium environment. Dr. Richard Snider, an MSU zoology professor who teaches zoo animal welfare, explains that it's important to look at the welfare of captive animals because the treatment of the animal often has a great impact on their health. "We're concerned about the treatment of animals, and are looking at ways to enrich the lives of captive animals in order to help relieve unnecessary stress," said Snider.

Currently, the captive animal industry is slowly moving to better animal welfare due in large part to the fact that accreditation by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which sets certain standards based on animal management and care, is becoming more important to zoos and aquariums. As a result, animals in captivity are living a healthier life than ever before, said Snider.

Because industry is beginning to focus on the welfare of captive animals, there is a great need for students who are interested in learning about stress therapy for these animals. As a result, the Animal Behavior and Welfare Group at MSU has received a lot of attention both from potential students and from other universities who are starting up similar programs. "It's exciting from our standpoint and from the student's standpoint," said Snider.