Fay Clark

Curriculum Vitae:

• 2010: PhD student, Institute of Zoology and Royal Veterinary College, London.
• 2008-2009: MPhil Human Evolutionary Studies (majoring in Primatology), University of Cambridge (Distinction).
• 2007-2008: Animal Behaviourist, ZSL London Zoo, Zoological Society of London.
• 2006-2007: MSc Wild Animal Biology, the Institute of Zoology, and the Royal Veterinary College, London (Distinction).
• 2006: Animal Records and Research Officer, Colchester Zoo, Essex.
• 2005: Field Assistant, Tsaobis Baboon Project, Institute of Zoology.
• 2004-2005: Research Assistant, Paignton Zoo Environmental Park, Devon.
• 2001-2004: BSc Zoology, University of Southampton.
• 2000,2001: Research Volunteer, the Kewalo Basin Marine Mammal Laboratory, Oahu, Hawaii.
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Research Interests:

I am interested in the behaviour and welfare of zoo-housed animals. I have a particular interest in primates, and focus on the effects of cognitive enrichment. A fundamental question is whether, like humans, some zoo-housed primates find ‘puzzles’ inherently enriching without the need for an external reward (such as food). Most importantly, I hope that this research will help guide the future management of certain primate species in zoos.

Supervisors:

This research is collaboration between the Institute of Zoology, and the Royal Veterinary College.
Dr Tony Sainsbury (Institute of Zoology)
Dr Trenton Garner (Institute of Zoology)
Professor Christopher Wathes (Royal Veterinary College)
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Links:

Royal Veterinary College Staff page
ZSL London Zoo
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Publications:

CLARK, F.E., FITZPATRICK, M., HARTLEY, A., KING, A.J., LEE, T., ROUTH, A., WALKER, S., & GEORGE, K. (In Press, published online). The relationship between behaviour, adrenal activity and environment in zoo-housed Western lowland gorillas (Gorilla gorilla gorilla). Zoo Biology.

CLARK, F.E. & MELFI, V.A. (In Press, published online). Environmental Enrichment for a Mixed-Species Nocturnal Mammal Exhibit. Zoo Biology.

CLARK, F.E. 2011. Great Ape Cognition and Care: Can Cognitive Challenges Enhance Psychological Well-being? Applied Animal Behaviour Science 135(1):1-12.

CLARK, F.E. 2011. Space to choose: Network analysis of social preferences in a captive chimpanzee community, and implications for management. American Journal of Primatology 73(8):748-757. This article was one of the top ten downloaded articles of 2010, published online 30 Nov 2010.

KING, A.J., CLARK, F.E. & COWLISHAW, G. 2011. The dining etiquette of desert baboons: the roles of social bonds, kinship, and dominance in co-feeding networks. American Journal of Primatology 73(8):768-774. Additional coverage: BBC Nature , Planet Earth Online

CLARK, F.E. & KING, A.J. (2008). A critical review of zoo-based olfactory enrichment. In: Chemical Signals in Vertebrates 11. Hurst, J. L., Beynon, R. J., Roberts, C. S. & Wyatt, T. D. (Eds). New York: Springer. p 391-398.

DOW, S. & CLARK, F.E. (Eds) (2007). Annual Symposium on Zoo Research: 2006, Colchester Zoo. The Federation of Zoological Gardens of Great Britain and Ireland, London.