Animal behaviour fascinates people. One of the most challenging questions today is whether animals are aware of themselves. A better understanding of animal behaviour is essential in animal welfare research. This research can provide insights relevant to the public debate surrounding the bioindustry and the desirability of animal testing. Questions about how animals interact with their environment, and thus also with humans and their activities, are also important for the relationship between humans and animals. Other questions are of a more evolutionary nature and address how animals' behaviour helps them survive.
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This question requires collaboration between disciplines such as ecology, biology, agricultural science, veterinary science and planning. Further research in the field of animal ethology of both wildlife and farm animals is important for a better understanding of diverse issues. These might include animal behaviour in natural habitats, the conservation of biodiversity in urbanised environments, the interaction of animals with their man-made habitats, or the spread of diseases for animals and/or humans. But also issues surrounding the significance of animal ecosystems for plant and animal production systems, and improving animal welfare in zoos and parks and in animal production systems, require cooperation between different disciplines. Also, knowledge about animal behaviour in (sub)populations under varying conditions such as in the presence of stress factors can provide valuable insights for aberrant behaviour in human (sub)populations.
