Developing best practice in the care of zoo-housed great apes (CENTA 2025-B29)

More than 4000 great apes (chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and bonobos) live in zoos across the world. However, meeting their welfare needs is extremely challenging because they are large bodied, socially sophisticated species, that naturally inhabit large, complex, 3-dimensional wild habitats. Although understanding of the behaviour of wild and captive great apes is improving rapidly due to long-term wild studies and modern techniques in the study of captive animals, accessing that information and translating it into practical ways to improve, monitor and regulate welfare standards, is a major problem for the zoo sector.

This project aims to close that gap and in doing so improve the quality of life for zoo-housed great apes. Animal welfare is a multidimensional concept comprising animal feelings, behaviour, health, cognition, resources and husbandry. There are two distinct types of measurement in animal welfare: animal-based measures consider each individual’s response to their physical and social environment and indicate their physical and emotional state, whereas resource-based measures quantify the resources available to the animal and management practices, such as space allocation, housing facilities, bedding material, access to water, enrichment and food provision.

Many zoos rely on resource-based approaches for welfare assessments because these are easier to assess quantitatively and are quick to collect; allowing the welfare of many animals to be assessed fairly rapidly. They also play an important role in the implementation of zoo inspections and legislation. Nevertheless, a key issue is that there is very little consensus as to what measures prove good, or bad, welfare for great apes and whether it is sufficient to quantify welfare by assessing the resources provided or whether it is essential to quantify each individual’s actual welfare experience. Moreover, identifying consistent and quantifiable indicators of their emotional state is extremely challenging. The vision underpinning this Studentship is to enable the UK zoo sector to access, implement and quantify the success of evidence-based captive care that meets the biological needs of captive great apes and optimises their welfare. We aim to achieve this through conducting and translating research into guidelines and procedures that improve welfare, support zoo management and planning, and enhance the robustness of the zoo inspection process.

Project Highlights:

Working in partnership with The British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), who are the professional body that represents the leading zoos and aquariums across the UK and Ireland. Opportunity to collect welfare and behavioural data from great apes housed at zoos across the UK and Ireland Collaborating with a large and supportive network of in situ and ex situ great ape conservationists, researchers and captive care practitioners Opportunity to make a lasting change to the welfare of zoo-housed great apes through identifying evidence-based best practise for captive great ape care, and user-friendly pathways to support zoos in achieving best practise For further information on this project and details of how to apply to it please visit https://centa.ac.uk/studentship/2025-b29-developing-best-practice-in-the-care-of-zoo-housed-great-apes/ Further information on how to apply for a CENTA studentship can be found on the CENTA website: https://centa.ac.uk/

Funding notes:

The CENTA DTP is currently awaiting confirmation of funding under the BBSRC-NERC Doctoral Landscape Award (DLA) scheme, which is the new name for Doctoral Training Partnerships (DTPs). This funding will support cohorts starting from 2025 onwards. We anticipate receiving further information by late October or early November 2024. Funding for this PhD opportunity is therefore subject to this confirmation. For further information please visit https://centa.ac.uk/. UKRI allows international students to be eligible for studentships but only for a maximum of 30% of the cohort. Please be aware that CENTA funding does not cover any additional costs relating to moving to and residing in the UK. All international applicants must ensure they can fulfil the University of Birmingham’s international student entry requirements, which includes English language requirements. For further information please visit https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/pgt/requirements-pgt/international/index.aspx.