Last week we released our new Foundations platform, which is designed to be a starting point for those who are new to the platform, need a refresher on how to use our library, or are looking for basic introductory information on the many concepts we cover across our three animal, human, and planetary wellbeing platforms.

As with all resources on all our platforms, these resources are designed to be used at any time, anywhere, when you need them. You can find a variety of materials like introduction to animal welfare assessments and the Earth Charter, guides on how to read scientific resources or how to be a transformational leader, and practical activities to apply your acquired knowledge. Every month we release new information and practical exercises that will help you to learn and understand different topics, with useful illustrations, glossaries, and more attractive resources.

We aim to provide content that suits a wide range of people from a wide range of backgrounds, no matter...

FOUNDATIONS platform launch

We are committed to providing accessible and affordable continued professional development and learning opportunities for all in the animal care and conservation community. This includes everyone from students to professors and from trainee animal care staff to CEOs: we aim to provide content that suits a wide range of people from a wide range of backgrounds, no matter how much experience you have.

That’s why we are developing and launching a brand-new platform as part of our interconnected learning experience through the AnimalConcepts membership: FOUNDATIONS!

Our new Foundations platform, bringing us up to 4 interconnected platforms, is designed to be a starting point for those who are new to the platform, need a refresher on how to use our library, or are looking for basic introductory information on the many concepts we cover across our three animal, human, and planetary wellbeing platforms.

As with all resources on all our platforms, these...

A new paper on which AnimalConcepts founder Sabrina Brando has collaborated is available for open access. The highlights of the peer-reviewed article are:

• We used von Bertalanffy growth curve to enable age prediction of harbour porpoises.
• Harbour porpoises grow 66% during the first year.
• Asymptotic length was reached after 4 years.
• Large seasonal variations in body mass, girth and blubber thickness were evident.
• It is possible to predict individual body mass ± 2 kg using length and girth.
• Enables investigations of nutritional state by measurements of the Body Mass Index.

You can download the paper and supplemental information HERE

Another Science into Practice is available on the animal wellbeing platform, as well as new human and planetary wellbeing content. Want to learn more? Sign up HERE

DogPAWS is a novel online platform that provides everyone with access to continuous science-based learning, sharing opportunities, and resources needed to support optimal dog wellbeing. This platform is an international collaboration between Sabrina Brando and the team at AnimalConcepts, Dr Annika Bremhorst, and Dr Sabrina Karl. The platform kicks off with a major online launch party this Saturday from 11:00 to 18:00 GMT+1 with a series of exciting talks on dog science, practice, and training from selected scientists, experts, and practitioners around the world. You can convert your time zone HERE.

Join the party by registering via https://forms.gle/TFsjib4dpmRJC1Td7 to reserve your free online ticket and receive the launch party access link. You can find more updates also in the Facebook event HERE.

Check the draft program  & celebrate the launch of DogPAWS with us!

Another Science into Practice is...

Update on forthcoming book Optimal Wellbeing of Ageing Wild Animals in Human Care

Sabrina Brando and Dr Sarah Chapman submitted the edited volume on caring for ageing animals! After more than 2 years of collaboration with wonderful co-authors, they have finished editing all chapters and content. The book has been submitted to the editorial team at Springer Nature and is expected to be released later this summer. Many thanks to all the contributors, including the fabulous photos of individual animals and their stories. Stay tuned!

Another Science into Practice is available on the animal wellbeing platform, as well as new human and planetary wellbeing content. Want to learn more? Sign up HERE

I wonder if rain is scared of falling if it has trouble letting go, if snow flakes get sick of being perfect all the time each one trying to be one-of-a-kind. 

In light of the Interbeing, we are inspired by these beautiful words from the poem "Being Human" by poet Naima...

Watch the welcome message from Irma Verhoeven and Sabrina Brando on planetary wellbeing. It was filmed earlier this month in the Dordogne in France, inspired by stars, the forest, all kinds of neighbours and mosses! Another year has started to learn, share, and discuss how to create a global movement towards a more just, sustainable and peaceful world for everyone.

Another Science into Practice is available on the PAWS platform!

Want to learn more? Sign up HERE

All interconnected

In 2023 at AnimalConcepts we are going to be connecting even more between human, animal, and planetary wellbeing, as well as continuing the highlights of actions, visions, and approaches through the Hummingbird Stories. We are launching some new types of resources and platforms, the team continues to develop new content as well as respond to requests while serving our global community. Do you want to learn and share together with us? You are welcome to join us for resources, links, videos, and updates in our public Facebook group HERE You can also join all resources on our interconnected platforms by clicking below

Another Science into Practice is available on the PAWS platform!

Want to learn more? Sign up HERE

Routledge Handbook of Animal Welfare

UPDATE - EBOOK IS NOW FREE! Sabrina Brando is delighted to have 2 chapters featured in this brand new textbook alongside 49 other authors, friends and colleagues in the field of animal welfare 1 on fishes and 1 on marine mammals Thank you Dr Andrew Knight & co-editors for the invitation and all the work editing this significant volume.

For more information and order your hardcopy and or download the FREE EBOOK click HERE

Another Science into Practice is available on the PAWS platform!

Want to learn more? Sign Up HERE

Check out the podcast recording with Ryan Cartlidge from the Animal Training Academy with Sabrina Brando recorded back in 2019. You can listen to it with your favourite player, and stay tuned for a new podcast they will record together in 2023! You can also access it HERE

Another Science into Practice is available on the PAWS platform!

The article discusses the intricacies of human-animal interaction as a constant development of animal ethics. Instead of exclusively considering animals as creatures to think about, the authors highlight the importance of acknowledging their perspectives on life and communicating with them accordingly. The authors also state that it is key to communicate with different animal species in a way that they understand, this allows reciprocity as opposed to merely a one-way human-based interaction. Finally, they describe the concept of animal ‘agency’, as the manifestation of animals' capacity of choice, which has...

Getting Better All the Time: Making All the Difference in the World Starts with One Thought or Idea, One Action, and One Animal

This essay by James F. Gesualdi and Sabrina Brando originally appeared in the San Diego Zoo Global Academy Newsletter and was published on the WAZA website

To keep ahead, each one of us, no matter what our task, must search for new and better methods for even that which we now do well must be done better tomorrow. – James F. Bell

In devoting our lives to working on continuously improving animal welfare—and endeavouring to do so across the caring zoological profession (in zoos and aquariums) and throughout the world—we remain mindful of the starting place for such positive change. It always starts with one person, one thought or idea, one action, or one conversation, to make a change for one or more animals at a time. It may seem small, and the process may seem frustratingly slow to some, but it works and can be highly effective at...