Bridget Cooper-Rogers

I am currently a PhD candidate in Animal and Veterinary Sciences at the University of Adelaide, with a research focus on Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare.
 
My research explores the welfare implications of animal-visitor interactions within zoological settings, encompassing both direct and indirect forms of engagement. These interactions include programs such as ambassadorships, handling/petting, feeding, animal demonstrations, presentations or other interactive experiences, which are commonly implemented in zoos to enhance the visitor experience.
 
A focus area of my research regards zoo-housed birds, a taxonomic group frequently involved in animal-visitor interactions yet substantially underrepresented within scientific literature. I am personally motivated by my personal interest in avian welfare, as I have been influenced by my experience with companion birds. As such, I aim to contribute to the limited body of research in this area, with the broader goal of informing and promoting evidence-based practices that support optimal behavioural health and welfare outcomes for birds in captive environments.