Ethology of the Freed Animal : Concept , methods , 2 projects 3

The present essay illustrates the methodological and theoretical premises of an emerging 8 research area carrying out both ethological and (bio)ethical implications: the ethology of the freed 9 animal (EFA). Unlike existing ethological fields, EFA focuses neither on non human (NH) animals 10 in natural conditions of freedom in their own environment, nor on NH animals kept in conditions 11 of “captivity”. Rather, EFA consists of a comparative study of NH animals that are released from a 12 condition of more or less abusive captivity and instead relocated in an environment more 13 appropriate to their species-specific and individual characteristics and inclinations. Ideal places for 14 this study are contexts like “Animal sanctuaries” and parks/reserves provided with a camp or 15 station for researchers, where a previously-captive NH animal can be reintroduced in his/her 16 natural habitat. Even though EFA exists already, as a de facto practice of the specialized and/or 17 volunteer personnel running sanctuaries and parks, the field still lacks a recognizable scholarly 18 paradigm, and it is yet to be acknowledged at institutional/academic level. By consequence, one 19 important aim for creating a field like this lies in the establishment of an active interaction between 20 the two parties involved (researchers and sanctuaries/parks operators). 21