Mapping the animal welfare research in Southeast Asia: A bibliometric analysis (1987–2025) https://doi.org/10.12982/VIS.2026.068
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Abstract
Animal welfare has emerged as a significant scientific and ethical concern in Southeast Asia, where biodiversity, culture and agricultural systems create unique challenges and opportunities. This study presents a bibliometric analysis of SCOPUS-indexed publications (1987–2025) to map research trends, productive contributors, leading institutions and countries, and thematic priorities in the region. A systematic search identified 298 relevant documents, analyzed using the Bibliometrix package (R, Biblioshiny) and VOSviewer for network visualization. Results show an annual growth rate of 8.60%, with most outputs being journal articles, prominently published in Animals. Thailand is the leading hub, driven by Chiang Mai University and extensive collaborations with the United Kingdom, the United States, and Australia. Authorship patterns follow Lotka's law, with a small cohort of prolific researchers and a broad base of occasional contributors. Thematic mapping reveals two dominant areas: region-specific concerns on Asian elephant and livestock welfare, and wider issues on wildlife trade, tourism impacts, and welfare assessment. Species analysis identifies two major research clusters: livestock/elephants and primates/insects, reflecting both agricultural and wildlife-related priorities. Overall, animal welfare research in Southeast Asia is expanding in number, thematic diversity, and global integration. Strengthening regional capacity, fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, and embedding local context into global welfare frameworks will be critical for sustaining growth and addressing both foundational and emerging challenges in animal welfare.
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