ZOO BASED RESEARCH
Research is a crucially important role of modern zoos, as highlighted by the World Association of Zoos and Aquariumsin the World Zoo Conservation Strategy. It provides a valuable insight into animal behaviour, health, cognition and more, which can lead to improvements in how we care for captive animals as well as having an impact on their conservation.
Newquay Zoo is part of The Whitley Wildlife Conservation Trust(WWCT) which has one of the most active research programmes in the British zoo community and plays an important role in the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) Research Group. Research at Newquay Zoo is co-ordinated by the WWCT Field Conservation and Research Department and we work in close collaboration with the animal and veterinary staff.
Newquay Zoo and the WWCT focus their research into three main working areas: Behavioural Husbandry and Animal Welfare, Behavioural Ecology and Cognition, and Conservation, Ecology and Environment. More information on previous and current projects is available on the Paigntonzoo/conservationandresearch/research.
Do you want to undertake research at Newquay Zoo or to ask Newquay Zoo to complete a research questionnaire? The BIAZA Research Group has compiled useful information for prospective zoo researchers and published several sets of guidelines. Please look at this information on the BIAZA website BEFORE contacting the Zoo. Once you have read this information please apply to the Research Department as indicated in our Visiting Researcher Information leaflet which can be downloaded here. This leaflet covers research at all the WWCT sites and although we cannot guarantee a research place, this helps us ensure that all research is feasible and beneficial to the Zoo.
Placements
Students of all levels, from school to PhD, visit Newquay Zoo each year to help undertake scientific studies and gain valuable research experience. Each year the department has 2 - 3 sandwich year placements available for undergraduates. Placement students spend the majority of their time working on their own research projects which they develop themselves, under the guidance of Research Department staff. During the year students also present talks to school groups, give oral and poster conference presentations and take part in discussion groups.
Click here for a pdf of our Visiting Researcher Handbook.
