The RSPCA Australia Scientific Seminar is a key national event for the RSPCA. The Seminar brings together leading experts in animal industries to explore the latest developments in animal welfare research, knowledge and practices.

The Seminars are designed to cover a broad spectrum of opinion, encourage audience participation, and have a reputation for provoking lively and constructive debate.

Convergence or conflict: Animal welfare in wildlife management and conservation

Tuesday 23 February 2010, CSIRO Discovery Centre, Canberra

Managing wildlife populations and ecosystems or conserving threatened species are complex activities that include many interrelated elements, with consideration of animal welfare often only given a minor role. But the impact of human activity on wildlife and many of the conservation goals we set to protect Australian biodiversity can have serious implications for animal welfare, in both positive and negative ways.

The 2010 RSPCA Australia Scientific Seminar brings the issue of animal welfare in wildlife management and conservation to the fore, examining the way in which these activities can at times come into conflict with animal welfare goals, or at other times converge to produce outcomes that benefit both welfare and conservation. The Seminar will broadly examine the animal welfare issues associated with the management of wildlife across four overlapping themes:

• the impact and management of threatening processes, such as invasive species
• the conservation of threatened species
• the impacts of urbanisation and agricultural development on wildlife
• the impact of climate change on wildlife conservation.

The topic raises some difficult questions, including: When should the welfare of wildlife override human interests? Should environmental impacts carry more weight than agricultural or direct economic impacts? When it comes to animal welfare and conservation, should we be concerned with the welfare of individual animals, populations, species, or ecosystems? And how much should we intervene to improve animal welfare when populations have been damaged by human activity or development?

As is the tradition with this Seminar Series, the program aims to cross conventional topic boundaries, challenge current thinking, and stimulate further discussion. RSPCA Australia welcomes the participation of all interested people to help make this a fascinating and thought-provoking day.

Posters: if you wish to present a poster at the Scientific Seminar, please contact us on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or phone 02 6282 8300.

Program: available in January 2010

Registration: Download form [DOC]

Past Science Seminar Information

• 2009 Animals and human health.
• 2008 Animals in transit: The journey ahead.
• 2007 How much space does an elephant need? The impact of confinement on animal welfare.
• 2006 The Five Freedoms and beyond: improving welfare of production animals.
• 2005 Cruelty to animals: a human problem.
• 2004 Welfare underwater - issues with aquatic animals.
• 2003 Solutions for achieving humane vertebrate pest control.
• 2002 Equine welfare: balancing tradition and science.
• 2001 Pets or pests? The future of companion animal ownership.
• 2000 Animal welfare in the new millennium: towards a national approach.
• 1999 Scientific evidence and improvements in animal welfare: are we ignoring the obvious?