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Research
Dr Carla Litchfield, a scientist from the University of South
Australia, will also be locked into the Human Zoo for the duration, providing
her with a unique opportunity to spend time in an enclosure and experience
things from the animals point of view. This information can be used in future
enrichment projects, to further enhance psychological well-being of
apes.
Dr Carla Litchfield is a Lecturer in Psychology (Human &
Animal Behaviour/Human-Animal interactions) at the University of South
Australia. Her passion is animal behaviour! She is involved in research and
community work with organisations that promote animal psychological and
physical wellbeing (in captivity and natural environments), and conservation.
She is particularly involved in primate research and conservation (Great
Apes).
As part of her Ph.D. in Animal Behaviour (Psychology, University
of Adelaide), she conducted behavioural enrichment research projects at
Adelaide Zoo with chimpanzees and caracals. The chimpanzees were given the
opportunity to explore, play and manipulate a number of novel objects and food
puzzles. The caracals were able to 'hunt' artificial prey moving along a flying
fox above them.
In 1994 she spent a year observing a community of 'wild'
chimpanzees in Uganda- the start of an ongoing commitment to the great apes of
Uganda. She has served as a scientific expert at Population and Habitat
Viability Assessments for chimpanzees and mountain gorillas in Uganda run by
the Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG). The International Gorilla
Conservation Program consulted her for their review of Gorilla Tourism
Guidelines. She has been closely involved with responsible tourism programs in
Uganda and written a book for tourists visiting the African great apes
(published by the Travellers' Medical and Vaccination Centre in Adelaide), with
a foreword by Dr Jane Goodall who has been an inspiration to her since their
first meeting 15 years ago.
The Australian Science Communicators awarded
her the "Unsung Hero of Australian Science" in 2000 for her work with African
great apes. She currently serves on the Board of the Royal Zoological Society
of South Australia as an elected member and is Chair of the Research Committee.
She is also on the Board of the United Nation's "Great Ape Survival Project" or
GRASP (Australasia), and the current President of the Australasian Primate
Society.
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