Melbourne ResearchAnimal Ethics

Wildlife research

Title
 Wildlife research (pdf, 1.65mb)
Source
 Guidelines to promote the well-being of animals used for scientific purposes (National Health and Medical Research Council, 2008)
Part
 Part III, Factsheet N
Status
 Guidelines
Description
 A practical accompaniment to the more universal principles identified within the Australian Code of Practice for the Care and Use of Animals for Scientific Purposes. This particular factsheet (Part III, Factsheet N) examines the essential animal wellbeing issues to consider when researching free-living native, non-indigenous or feral mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish and cephalopods.


Title
 Wildlife studies (pdf, 469kb)
Source
 Australian code of practice for the care and use of animals for scientific purposes (National Health and Medical Research Council, 2004)
Part Section 5
Status
 Mandatory standard
Description
 The Code directs researchers, teaching staff and AECs in all aspects of scientific animal use. Section 5 identifies the general principles to be observed when capturing, handling, holding, releasing, and transporting wildlife.
Title
 Students as researchers and/or volunteers on wildlife studies 
Source
 Melbourne Research, University of Melbourne 
Status  Guidelines
Description  Departments overseeing such projects will issue their own guidelines and training and it is recommended that you contact the AEC representative from your Department to discuss your plans. In principle, the following applies:
  1. All students working on research projects involving animals (as defined on the Animal Ethics homepage) must first be named on an approved University of Melbourne animal ethics project. Before commencing your work, please consult with your Project Supervisor to ensure this is the case.
  2. If you have your own research project and you wish to invite volunteers to join you on field trips, any advertisements you wish to place on University noticeboards should be submitted to the Animal Ethics Committee for approval along with the research protocol. Volunteers will not be permitted to handle animals, but they may assist with data gathering and technical tasks. Please note that this work is often carried out in public places where members of the public have a right to question what is being done and under what authority and may report any non-compliance to the Bureau of Animal Welfare.
  3. If you have invited volunteers to join you in the field, it is your responsibility to instruct them on how to conduct themselves to minimize their impact on the welfare of the animals within the study area.
Contact us with further queries. 

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