Research
Research and Art at Blackpool Zoo
It is a legal requirement for all European Zoos to carry out research. By studying our animals, we can understand how to give them the best level of care possible, and we can ensure that our animals are both physically and mentally healthy.
At Blackpool Zoo we actively encourage undergraduate and postgraduate students to carry out academic research, and art based projects. Our friendly and helpful keeping staff, as well as our full time research co-ordinator make Blackpool Zoo an excellent place for research and art students. As a result we attract students from all over the UK and abroad.
We currently have over 1,500 animals of more than 300 species over our 32 acre site.
Academic Research at Blackpool Zoo
Academic research at zoos is an important aspect of daily husbandry and animal welfare and provides an understanding of a wide range of animal behaviour for example, nutrition, physiology and behaviour. Zoos are required to carry out a degree of academic research concerning their animals as part of the Zoo Licensing Act 1981 and as with Blackpool as a British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquaria (BIAZA) member. Research carried out at Blackpool Zoo in conjunction with the education department, enables a higher standard of animal care and expertise. Furthermore, research of environmental enrichment methods at the zoo enables us to understand if it has had a positive affect on the animal and if it provides both mental and physical stimulation.
At Blackpool Zoo we actively encourage undergraduate and postgraduate students to carry out academic research projects. Our friendly and helpful keeping staff, as well as our research team, makes Blackpool Zoo an excellent place for students to carry out their work.
Academic Research
The research department are able to process applications from undergraduates and postgraduates of a biological based discipline in which both behavioural and records based research can occur. All applicants must have completed the ‘Application for Research’ form which can be downloaded here as a PDF file and posted or emailed to research@blackpoolzoo.org.uk.
Before you complete the proposal form we strongly recommend you read the guidelines by downloading them here and those available on zoo based research from the BIAZA website (www.biaza.org.uk). This site contains guidelines on project planning, sampling and observational techniques, ethics and statistics. These have been written by professional zoo researchers and will help you to produce a higher quality project.
As the research department regularly receive applications for research it is important that you complete your application well in advance as the process can take up to a few weeks. If your application is approved you will be invited for a health and safety induction in which your pass will be issued.
Completed forms can be sent by post to the zoo, or emailed to the research department on: research@blackpoolzoo.org.uk.
For any further queries with regards to research please contact the Research Department on (01253) 830 801 ext. 244
