Workplace attitudes and responsibilities regarding euthanasia practices within Australasian zoos and aquariums : a thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Veterinary Science at Massey University, Manawatū, New Zealand. EMBARGOED until 1st August 2025
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Date
2024
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Massey University
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Abstract
Euthanasia of a diverse range of species is carried out regularly in Australasian zoos, however little is known about zoo employee attitudes on the use of euthanasia within Australasian zoos, the types of euthanasia performed and the range of personnel involved. I carried out a survey of staff in zoos across Australia and New Zealand and used quantitative and qualitative methods to analyse the responses. Widely variable employee support was documented for both lethal and non-lethal animal management strategies, with polarizing attitudes expressed toward the use of euthanasia for “otherwise healthy” animals. Non-lethal methods (e.g. reproductive control) to avoid creation of surplus young were emphatically supported, and were preferred over lethal methods that focused on managing resultant individuals. The underlying justification for the use of euthanasia was critically important to attitudes held by employees, suggesting many zoo professionals will apply moral judgements at the individual animal-level, with euthanasia performed for geriatric animals shown to be a well-accepted and common practice. We documented a broad variety of personnel involved in the euthanasia decision-making process within zoos, and identified divergence in attitudes held across individual employees and major employee groups (i.e. ‘management’, ‘animal care’, and ‘veterinary services’). Variation in euthanasia use and attitudes was identified across different workplace settings, and geographic influences were revealed with a broadly heterogenous set of attitudes identified for Australasia. This work calls for more open and transparent considerations around animal euthanasia, with recognition of the cultural differences that may exist, and the risks that euthanasia practices create for the experiences of those caring for animals, to the animals themselves, and to the maintenance of zoos’ social licence.
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Embargoed until 1st August 2025.