Shape—Brasil I Regional Environmental Enrichment Conference

 

In 2008, we had our first REEC: The Brazilian Regional Environmental Enrichment Conference. The event counted on lectures of well-known researchers in the fields of animal welfare, environmental enrichment, non-invasive monitoring of stress, and professionals who had relevant results in the area. There were national and international lectures and one round table, all of them aiming to discuss the studies and applied works in the area, their efficiency, accuracy, their meaning from the point of view of ethics and animal welfare, as well as the perspectives for the field. There were also poster sessions in which 48 papers were presented by students and professionals.

 

The event was organized in partnership with the Institute of Psychology and the School of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny of the University of S�o Paulo. We had the financial support of FAPESP (Funda��o de Amparo � Pesquisa do Estado de S�o Paulo, a Brazilian foundation which supports research) and the Research Dean of the University of S�o Paulo.

 

The Conference was held in the University of S�o Paulo, starting on September 26 (opening session and icebreaker) and ending September 28, 2008. It was publicized through the site, posters, and leaflets, sent to universities and institutions which house animals (zoos, laboratories, private keepers, etc.). One hundred and fifty three delegates attended the conference, from several states in Brazil and even Argentina. These people were: students (undergraduates – 41% and post-graduation – 17%, from the following areas: Biology – 59%, Veterinary Medicine – 33%, Zootechnics – 3%, Environmental Engineering 1%, Zoology – 1%, Ecology 1%); professors; researchers; and keepers (42%).

 

The Conference had contributions from three international speakers (Valerie Hare, one of the founders of the NGO �The Shape of Enrichment�; Dr. David J. Shepherdson, from the Oregon Zoo, and Dr. Rupert Palme, from the Veterinary Medicine University of Vienna) and ten national speakers (Dr. Vanner Boere de Souza, from the University of Bras�lia; Dr. Mateus Jos� Rodrigues Paranhos da Costa, from the University of the State of S�o Paulo; Cynthia Cipreste, from the Funda��o Zoobot�nica of Belo Horizonte; Dr. S�rgio Leme da Silva, from the University of Bras�lia; Manuela G. F. G. Sgai, from the University of S�o Paulo; Ang�lica S. Vasconcellos, from the University of S�o Paulo; Marie Odile M. Chelini, from the University of S�o Paulo; Dr. Cristiane Schilbach Pizzutto, from the University of S�o Paulo , Dr. Marcelo Alcindo B. V. Guimar�es, from the University of S�o Paulo, and Dr. C�sar Ades from the University of S�o Paulo), who presented relevant results and reflections over the improvements in terms of welfare through the environmental enrichment techniques and the perspectives for the field.

 

Taking into account the evaluation of the participants and the Organizing Committee, we believe the First Brazilian Regional Conference on Environmental Enrichment achieved its objectives, through the promotion of discussion and reflection over efficient ways to promote welfare of captive animals. We could, also, encourage the development of trustworthy ways to evaluate the efficiency of the techniques used.

 

The abstracts from the First Brasilian REEC may be downloaded from the REEC section of this website. If you do not have Acrobat Reader, you can download a free version from Adobe.

 

 

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