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About Akongo

Our team

Since 2016, the Akongo team has supported zoos, aquariums and laboratories in monitoring the welfare of their animals. Ethology, veterinary medicine and tool development: three areas of expertise brought together in one team.

The team members

A scientific approach, from measurement to action

A change made to the animals' living environment, to working methods or to the management of a facility must genuinely benefit the animals. To check this, the team relies on measurements: quantitative methods, behavioural observations, physiological measurements, collection of information in the field.

The team designs assessment protocols specific to each species (e.g. lion tamarin, okapi or vulture), based on current scientific knowledge, and adds new species as its literature research progresses. For the facilities it supports, it analyses the data collected by their teams, then proposes actions, which are validated with the management.

Whatever the project, the objective remains the same: practices that respect the animal, the environment and people.

Working with the team

In addition to the tools, the team steps in when you need it:

  • Scientific and methodological advice

    Data analysis, design of specific protocols, species-specific recommendations and monitoring of the scientific literature.

  • On-site support

    Regular days at your facility to support the teams, put the actions in place and follow practices over time.

  • Research projects

    Setting up and following collaborative research projects with your facility, in zoos as well as in laboratories.

  • Team training

    On site or remotely: welfare assessment, use of the tools, observation method and reading of the results.

  • Exchanges in the app

    At the end of an observation or a questionnaire, a comment lets you send context information to Akongo's ethologists or report an anomaly. The team's replies appear with your notes in Animal Welfare Monitor.

Research and scientific collaborations

The team carries out research projects in ethology and animal welfare, in zoos as well as in laboratories:

  • Approved research organisation

    Akongo is approved as a research organisation by the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. For French institutions, research services entrusted to Akongo may be eligible for the French Research Tax Credit (Crédit d'Impôt Recherche, CIR).

  • CIFRE PhDs

    The team hosts PhD students under the CIFRE scheme (Conventions industrielles de formation par la recherche, industrial research training agreements), co-funded by ANRT (the French National Association for Research and Technology).

  • Scientific collaborations

    Depending on the project, the team works with scientists from CNRS, INRAE, universities and veterinary schools.

  • Publications and conferences

    The team publishes its results in scientific journals, presents them at conferences and takes part in organising scientific conferences and workshops.

Recent publications by the team

Two articles published in 2026, co-authored by members of the team:

  • For zoos — Romain, A., Briard, L., Leroutier, G., Parker, M., Chenet, B., Wagner, C., Petry, A., & Quintard, B. (2026). Animal Welfare Monitor: Raising the bar for species-specific welfare evaluation using Welfare Quality® principles. Animals, 16(5), 842. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/16/5/842
  • For primates housed in research laboratories — Caspar-Cohen, J., Demellier, J., Pellé, S., Valenchon, M., Ravel, S., Romain, A., & Petit, O. (2026). The Primate Welfare INdicators project (PWIN): For an objective and standardised welfare assessment of non-human primates used in research. Animal Welfare, 35, e36. cambridge.org

Add the team's expertise to your approach

All our offers can be used on your own or with support. The team's support (scientific advice, on-site days, team training) is invoiced separately.
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Learn more about our solutions

Training

Discover our training organisation and develop your expertise in ethology and animal welfare.

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Methodology

Discover our animal welfare assessment method, based on questionnaires and behavioural observations.

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Animals

Discover the species we monitor and the specific programmes available for each.

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