All great apes are at significant risk of extinction. Those living in sanctuaries across Africa and SE Asia, and those in zoos across the world, are therefore central to the survival of the species. The ability of sanctuaries to reintroduce great apes into the wild, and of zoos to preserve the species, relies on encouraging them to exhibit the behaviours they need to survive in natural habitats. A key issue is how to replicate the complexity of forest, and the physical and mental challenges it poses for wild great apes on a daily basis, in the relatively simple and unchanging enclosures that are typical of captive settings.
The Enclosure Design Tool (EDT) is an interactive web-based application we developed to translate research on wild apes into a format that captive settings can use to encourage wild-type behaviours in their great apes. It compares behavioural-ecology data from captive individuals to data profiled for wild individuals and recommends enclosure modifications to elicit missing or under-represented wild-type behaviours. It focusses on replicating the mechanical challenges apes experience in the wild to create enclosures that behave naturally, rather than ones that look natural to visitors.
This studentship will create an EDT for gorillas to complement existing EDTs for orangutans and chimpanzees. Gorillas are difficult to care for in captivity because of their large size, advanced cognitive abilities, sensitivity to stress, and their complex natural social groupings. They are also at significant risk of contracting zoonotic diseases from humans. The aims of this PhD are 1) conduct literature reviews to better understand the physical and cognitive demands of natural environments for wild gorillas and 2) to apply the findings to captive environments to ensure that zoos and sanctuaries can meet the health and biological needs of the gorillas in their care. The results will guide development of new ways to replicate natural habitats in captivity and facilitate positive social groupings to improve their quality of life and chances of successful reintroduction to the wild (where this is possible). This project is a partnership between the University of Birmingham, Paignton Zoo and Twycross Zoo and a range of gorilla sanctuaries in Africa. It will embed the student in a global One Health programme (led by Unwin) that aims to achieve optimal health outcomes for people, animals, plants, and their shared environment, by recognising their interconnectedness.
We expect candidates to have a Merit or Distinction at MSc level in a relevant subject. Experience of collecting behavioural data on primates would also be an advantage, particularly on great apes. Some knowledge of biomechanics and/or cognitive research is beneficial but not essential.
See the Enclosure Design Tool we have created to help zoos and sanctuaries encourage their chimps and orangutans to use wild-type behaviours: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/schools/biosciences/research/showcase/enclosure-design-tool/index.aspx
Methodology:
- Literature review of the behavioural ecology of wild and captive gorillas. This will include locomotor ecology, environmental cognition, psychological resilience and social behaviour and learning.
- Observational and experimental studies of the behaviour of ex situ gorillas to fill the knowledge gaps most relevant to improving the quality of life for zoo and sanctuary gorillas.
- Translate those findings to develop mechanisms to encourage natural behaviours in captivity by creating enclosures that mimic the mechanical behaviour of natural forest habitats for gorillas and facilitate natural social behaviour. Test these at zoos/sanctuaries where necessary and refine accordingly.
- Create a series of recommendations for ex situ gorilla enclosure design and husbandry and share them with our network of partners via the UK’s Great Ape Welfare group (chaired by Thorpe) and the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance (PASA).
Training and skills:
Students will be awarded CENTA2 Training Credits (CTCs) for participation in CENTA2-provided and ‘free choice’ external training. One CTC equates to 1⁄2 day session and students must accrue 100 CTCs across the three years of their PhD.
Training in specialist methodologies required for behavioural data collection and One Health methodologies will be provided by Thorpe, Chappell and Unwin. Chappell will provide training in sampling and recording cognitive and social, while Thorpe will provide training recording movement and ecology. Chappell and external training will provide additional intensive training in the specific programming and statistical techniques required for this project (e.g. R and Python programming, linear modelling techniques such as etc).
Partners and collaboration (including CASE):
This PhD studentship is part of a broader research programme in which we are working with a number of organisations involved in conservation and rehabilitation of a variety of species. This project has been co-developed with Paignton Zoo and Twycross Zoo. Our shared aim is to generate new data on zoo and sanctuary housed gorillas to better understand their welfare needs and to translate those finding into improved husbandry techniques and enclosure modifications. Shared supervision will enhance the student’s experience by embedding them in zoological research and its application to the life sciences industry. The results will be disseminated via the Great Ape Welfare group, via Tywcross Zoo’s links to the international zoo community and via our partners in the Pan African Sanctuary Alliance.
We do not currently have a CASE partner for this project, but Twycross Zoo is a CENTA partner.
Possible timeline:
Year 1: Literature review of gorilla behavioural ecology and welfare n wild and captive settings to identify knowledge gaps. Undertake training in behavioural ecology data collection at Twycross and other UK zoos. Begin observational studies and design first ideas for relevant experimental phase.
Year 2: Complete observational work, refine experimental phase and complete data collection. Begin analysis of observational data.
Year 3: Complete analysis of all data. Translate into mechanisms to replicate natural behaviours in gorillas throughout the life course in captive settings and test the efficacy of these at Twycross and other UK zoos (and global sanctuaries where possible). Refine accordingly. Write and publish resulting papers.
Please email potential supervisor Dr Thorpe ([Email Address Removed]) for more information.
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