Animal Play and Animal Welfare

This paper explores the relationship between animal play and animal welfare. The authors review the current state of knowledge on animal play, including its definition, function, and measurement, and discuss the implications of this research for animal welfare. They argue that play is an important component of animal welfare, as it provides animals with opportunities for socialization, learning, and the development of cognitive and physical skills. The authors also discuss the potential negative consequences of play deprivation, including increased stress and aggression. They conclude that the promotion of play in captive and domesticated animals is an important aspect of animal welfare, and that further research is needed to develop effective strategies for promoting play in different animal species and contexts.