FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
I would like to cite this website. What is the correct format?
To properly cite this website, you may use the following format:
Zemanova (2020): The 3Rs principles in wildlife research. Accessed [Date]. Available at: https://3RsWildlife.info.
Alternatively, you can cite the article reporting on the website’s development:
Zemanova M. A. (2021): New online resource on the 3Rs principles of animal research for wildlife biologists, ecologists, and conservation managers. Conservation 1: 106-112. https://doi.org/10.3390/conservation1020009
How were the featured studies chosen?
The studies currently listed aim to provide a diverse range of non-invasive or non-lethal methods employed in research on various species. However, it is important to note that the list is not exhaustive and is continuously updated to incorporate new findings and approaches.
The species / method that I am looking for is not featured. What can I do?
Consider the following options:
1. Explore the listed studies that describe methods used for similar species to determine if a method can be implemented in your research.
2. Conduct a search on Google Scholar using the keywords “non-invasive” AND “research purpose” or “species” to discover if any non-invasive methods have been developed or implemented. For a comprehensive guide on conducting literature searches and finding relevant articles, you may refer to resources such as the EURL ECVAM Search Guide.
3. If none of the currently available techniques are suitable for your research, try to think creatively and develop a new research approach that minimizes harm to animals. And if successful, please let me and other researchers know!
Does not everyone already use non-invasive research methods whenever possible?
A survey1 conducted among 107 ecologists working with animals across 23 countries has shown that the adoption of non-invasive methods is not as widespread as expected. Only 22% of the respondents used solely non-invasive techniques in their latest research. Additionally, the survey results indicated that only 39% of the respondents were familiar with the 3Rs principles for animal research.
Wildlife research and conservation biology are usually interested in species, populations, and ecosystems, not individual animals. Is it not ok to sacrifice a few individuals for the good of many?
In conservation biology, there has traditionally been a conflict between prioritizing the welfare of individual animals and the preservation of populations, species, and ecosystems. Michael Soulé’s essay (1985), which marked the inception of conservation biology, states: “Although disease and suffering are unpleasant and, perhaps, regrettable, biologists recognize that conservation is engaged in the protection of the integrity and continuity of natural processes, not the welfare of individuals.”
While historically a high degree of invasiveness was necessary to gather reliable data for understanding and managing wildlife, our technological advancements and evolving understanding of animal welfare now call for adjustments in research methods. Wildlife researchers have a moral obligation to carry out their work in a respectful and least harmful manner toward species, ecosystems, and individual animals.
Do we need to care about the welfare of invertebrates as well?
The welfare of invertebrates has long been overlooked, as evident from the lack of legislation regulating animal research involving most invertebrate species. This oversight has been justified by the belief that the majority of invertebrates are incapable of experiencing pain and lack advanced cognitive functions. However, recent studies have challenged this assumption, suggesting that invertebrates may indeed experience pain2, 3, stress4 and emotional states5, 6. It is also important to remember that certain animal groups have been more extensively studied than others, which may result in limited evidence regarding specific welfare impacts. In light of this uncertainty, it is imperative that we adopt the precautionary principle and prioritize the use of methods that pose the least potential harm.