Kathy Baker

 

Position: UK—Ireland Regional Committee

 

Hi, my name is Kathy Baker and I am an education and research officer at Newquay Zoo, UK. I am also studying part-time at the University of Exeter for a Ph.D. in Animal Behaviour; investigating personality in zoo-housed primates and how it can be used as a tool for health and welfare assessment.

 

I became interested in the application of environmental enrichment in zoos during my undergraduate degree when I carried out an olfactory enrichment project with captive jaguars. I was able to further my knowledge of zoo-based research during my MSc degree in Zoo Conservation Biology which was jointly taught at the University of Plymouth and Paignton Zoo.

 

Before I came to Newquay Zoo, I worked at Paignton Zoo as a temporary Research Assistant after which I continued to volunteer in the research department. During this time, I became involved in the Paignton Zoo Environmental Enrichment Group and assisted with the organisation of the first two UK-Ireland REECs. Being involved in these regional conferences continues to be a very rewarding experience as it is a great chance to exchange thoughts and ideas on all aspects of environmental enrichment.

 

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