Research FAQs

See below our frequently asked questions for conducting research at Chester Zoo.

1. What type of research is carried out at Chester Zoo? 

2. How do I carry out a research project at Chester Zoo?

3. How do I find out more information about the animal and plant collection at Chester Zoo?

4. I have never conducted a research project before - what is the first thing I should do?

5. For my research project, I would like a member of Chester Zoo staff to complete a questionnaire. Who should I send the questionnaire to?

6. I’m doing an assignment on nutrition, - can you send me details of how you feed the animals at Chester Zoo (e.g. what is fed, nutritional values of each ingredient, feeding regimens)?

7. I am an undergraduate student - can I conduct an environmental enrichment study?

8. How much does a Research Pass cost?

9. Are internships and work placements available in the Research Department?

 

1. What type of research is carried out at Chester Zoo?

The research staff at Chester Zoo conduct studies which comprise numerous disciplines, including animal behaviour, endocrinology, nutrition, veterinary and environmental education research. Please view our research pages to find out more about the zoo’s research disciplines. We also welcome applications for research projects in other areas.

All research must demonstrate or have implications for our scientific understanding of one or more of the following:

- Biodiversity conservation
- Animal health and welfare
- Species husbandry
- Reproduction
- Plant cultivation and propagation
- Environmental education
- Species ecology (including behaviour, feeding, physiology)
- Genetics, evolution and morphology
- Species systematics and taxonomy

We prioritise projects with clear benefits for the study of animals or plants for biodiversity conservation, animal welfare and husbandry in general, and/or that are the result of EEP/BIAZA/TAG recommendations.

2. How do I carry out a research project at Chester Zoo?

The North of England Zoological Society (NEZS), which operates Chester Zoo, has a formal research application review process. Every research project has to be registered with, reviewed and approved by us before the project can begin or before biological samples are collected. You will need to apply well in advance of when you wish to begin your project.

Due to the large volume of applications we receive, it may take up to one month before you hear whether or not your project has been approved (depending on the nature of the project, the review process may take longer than this). The review process includes scientific quality, logistical feasibility and ethics.

If you’re interested in conducting research at Chester Zoo, you can find out more here .

3. How do I find out more information about the animal and plant collection at Chester Zoo?

Chester Zoo has a large animal collection (7,000 animals of 400 different species) and a very large range of plant species, from microscopic water plants to towering trees. To find out more about Chester Zoo’s collection you can:

• Check out the Appendices of our Annual Report
• Explore our website and find out more about our plants and animals
• Visit the ISIS Species Holding website. The International Species Information System (ISIS) website will help you find out how many animals of each species are currently living in ISIS member institutions worldwide.

4. I have never conducted a research project before - what is the first thing I should do?

We strongly recommend that you first read the Zoo Research Guidelines series produced by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA), which can be downloaded for free from the BIAZA website . The guidelines offer practical advice on how to set up a research project and cover a range of areas of zoo research, e.g. behavioural observations, nutrition and diet evaluations, assessments of visitor effects, and statistics.

5. For my research project, I would like a member of Chester Zoo staff to complete a questionnaire. Who should I send the questionnaire to?

Every project, including questionnaires for research purposes, has to be approved by and registered with the North of England Zoological Society (NEZS), which operates Chester Zoo. Researchers must fill out the appropriate application documents and submit a copy of the questionnaire with their application.

Please be aware that we only complete questionnaires if the research project has already been approved. The review process includes quality of the questionnaire design, logistical feasibility (e.g. staff time required to answer it) and ethics.

6. I’m doing an assignment on nutrition - can you send me details of how you feed the animals at Chester Zoo (e.g. what is fed, nutritional values of each ingredient, feeding regimens)? 

As you might appreciate, we receive regular requests for zoo animal nutrition/diet information, which are not appropriate for us to answer in detail. Information on the feeding ecology of selected species at Chester Zoo can be found here. For zoo animal nutrition information, the EAZA Nutrition Group maintains a resource page of recommended reading, useful weblinks and conference publications, with many of the latter freely available to download.

7. I am an undergraduate student - can I conduct an environmental enrichment study?

We are usually only able to approve purely observational undergraduate projects and it is not possible for undergraduate projects to involve any manipulation of the animal’s environment, for example environmental enrichment studies. We suggest that undergraduates discuss other project ideas and research questions with their supervisor, which are purely observational, before submitting an application.

8. How much does a Research Pass cost?

Approved external researchers can choose between two payment options for a pass to give them repeated access to the zoo during their data collection period:

a) The Research Pass (currently £30) allows access to the zoo, including the library, during opening hours. It is valid for the duration of the approved project or for a maximum of 12 months, whichever is the shortest. If the project is to last longer than 12 months, we require a progress report at the end of each year, and payment for a new Research Pass. Information on purchasing a Research Pass is available here .

b) Annual Membership, which gives unlimited access to the zoo for a full year and includes a number of additional benefits.

If the approved project only requires access to the zoo for one or two days, the researcher may prefer to pay the current entrance fee on arrival at the Zoo on each day, once their project has been approved by the zoo.

9. Are internships and work placements available in the Research Department?

If there are any internships or work placements available in the Research Department, we will advertise them on the zoo's website. Please check the Careers page regularly for current vacancies.

 

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If you have any further enquires about research at Chester Zoo and you cannot find the information on the website, please email the Research Department.