Aquatic mammals continue to face significant and growing threats from human activities, including habitat degradation, pollution, climate change, and bycatch. As these challenges escalate, there is an urgent need for innovative solutions that integrate welfare science with conservation strategies to protect both ex-situ and wild populations.

This year, the EAAM conference seeks to spotlight how advancements in aquatic mammal welfare science can drive and enhance conservation efforts for wild populations. We invite researchers, practitioners, and experts to submit abstracts that explore how welfare science can improve animal care in zoological settings and how these insights can be applied to conservation practices in the field.

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Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

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• The role of welfare science in improving the health and well-being of aquatic mammals in human care

• How ex-situ welfare insights can inform and enhance conservation strategies for wild populations

• Case studies where welfare science has directly supported the conservation of endangered species

• The intersection of animal welfare, ethics, and conservation efforts

• Innovative welfare practices in zoological institutions and their potential applications in the wild

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The upcoming conference aims to bridge the gap between animal welfare science and conservation by demonstrating how ex-situ expertise is critical to protecting aquatic mammals in the wild. Join us in showcasing the essential role that welfare science plays in both safeguarding individual animals and contributing to the long-term conservation of species.

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Martin Böye

President EAAM