Kathy Baker

Biography

Education and research Officer at Wild Planet Trust (Newquay Zoo)

Qualifications

2006 - 2012 PhD Cross species comparisons of primate personality and implications for captive management, University of Exeter

2004 – 2005 MSc Zoo Conservation Biology, University of Plymouth

2001 – 2004 BSc (Hons) Zoology, Liverpool John Moores University

Professional membership

Primate Society of Great Britain

Roles on external bodies

Committee member of SHAPE—UK-Ireland, the regional division of The Shape of Enrichment, Inc.

Teaching

Teaching interests

Animal personality

Zoo animal health, welfare and management

Applied psychology

Primate behaviour and conservation

Research

Research interests

My research focus covers a wide range of behaviour and welfare related topics. In particular cross species comparisons of animal personality, the evaluation of personality as a management tool for captive animals, and multi-institutional research to inform management practices for captive animals

Publications

Journals

Baker, K., Lea, S. and Melfi, V. 2013. Personality assessment of three species of captive monkey Macaca nigra,Macaca sylvanus, and Saimiri sciureus: cross-species comparisons of primate personality. International Journal of Primatology. 36(3): 625-646

Baker, K. R. and Pullen, P. K. 2013. The impact of housing and husbandry on the personality of cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus). The Journal of Zoo and Aquarium Research. 1: 35-40

Baker, K., Pankhurst, S., and Walter, O. 2013. Behavioural Profiling. Ed. K. Baker. In: Bishop, J., Hosey, G. and Plowman, A. (Eds.) 2013. Handbook of Zoo Research, Guidelines for Conducting Research in Zoos. London. BIAZA. pp 119-133.

Baker, K. and Melfi, V. 2010. An overview of carcass feeding: health, behaviour and public perception. Zoo Research News BIAZA Research Group Newsletter 11.3, supplement

Personal

Conferences organised

Regional Environmental Enrichment Conferences (one every two years since 2006)

Other academic activities

I teach on a range of courses through Cornwall College Newquay; BSc Applied Zoology, FdSc Animal Behaviour and Psychology, FdSc Zoological Conservation and FdSc Wildlife Education and Media.

Profiles

Honorary Lecturer in MSc in Zoo and Aquarium Conservation Biology

School of Biological and Marine Sciences (Faculty of Science and Engineering)