Dr Carla Litchfield

My passion is animal behaviour! I am involved in research and community work with organisations that promote animal psychological and physical wellbeing (in captivity & natural environments), and conservation. I am particularly involved in primate research and conservation (Great Apes).

As part of my Ph.D. in Animal Behaviour (Psychology, University of Adelaide), I 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 I spent a year observing a community of 'wild' chimpanzees in Uganda- the start of an ongoing committment to the Great apes of Uganda. I have 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 Programme consulted me for their review of Gorilla Tourism Guidelines. I have been closely involved with responsible tourism programmes in Uganda and written a book for tourists visiting the African Great Apes (published by the Travellers’ Medical and Vaccination Centre in Adelaide).

The Australian Science Communicators awarded me the “Unsung Hero of Australian Science” in 2000 for my work with African Great Apes. I currently am the Vice President of the Royal Zoological Society of South Australia as an elected member, and am part of the science team, as Head of Conservation Psychology. I am also on the Board of the United Nation's "Great Ape Survival Project" or GRASP (Australasia). I am the current President of the Australasian Primate Society.

I am helping develop the area of Conservation Psychology at ZoosSA, and with Dr Wendy Foster have written an article about this exciting area and how it may contribute to changing human behaviour in order to help conserve our planet's precious wildlife and natural environments. Conservation Psychology and Zoos International Zoo Educators Web Site

I have written three science books for children about animals ('The Chimpanzee Book: Apes Like Us'; 'The Gorilla Book: Born to be Wild'; 'Saving Pandas') and conservation for Black Dog Books- with part proceeds going to conservation projects in habitat countries through Conservation Ark Black Dog Books Web Site

Information about the bushmeat trade

Australasian Primate Society

Great Apes Survival Project (GRASP)- Australia

Conservation Breeding Specialist Group

International Gorilla Conservation Programme

• Conservation Psychology linked to my role as Head of Conservation Psychology at ZoosSA
• Animal and human behaviour and learning
• Applications of Ecological Learning Theory
• Human-animal interactions

Ph.D. (Psychology; Animal Behaviour), University of Adelaide

B.Sc. (Honours, First Class), University of Adelaide

B.Sc., University of Adelaide

Postdoctoral Research Fellow, University of St. Andrews

• Conservation Psychology- applying principles of Psychology to change non-sustainable human behaviour; and to enhance welfare of animals in captive and ‘wild’ environments
• Great Ape behaviour, cognition and conservation
• the bushmeat trade crisis in Africa, and possible solutions for 100s of orphaned Great Apes in African sanctuaries
• responsible wildlife tourism; applications of Ecological Learning Theory
• behavioural enrichment to promote captive animal welfare; maintenance of behavioural diversity for successful reintroduction of captive animals;
• human-animal interactions; psychopathology and animal abuse
• dog behaviour and cognition, and human fear of dogs
• Read about some of my HONOURS STUDENTS' PROJECTS conducted at ZoosSA (& other zoos):
  (1) 2008 project by Hayley Tindle, "Behavioural analysis of a cheetah-human interaction within a zoo setting, and its impact upon human conservation knowledge and attitudes" ZoosSA Web Site;
  (2) 2008 project by Monika Szokalski, "To touch or not to touch: An observational study of social and solitary captive tigers (Panthera tigris) housed at two Australian zoos" ZoosSA Web Site;
  (3) 2007 project by Elissa Pearson, "Orangutan-siamang interactions at Adelaide Zoo" ZoosSA Web Site

JOURNAL ARTICLES:
Litchfield, C.A., & Foster, W. (2009). Conservation Psychology in zoos. International Zoo Educators, 45, 6-10. Available online at: International Zoo Educators Web Site

Smith, B.P., & Litchfield, C.A. (2009). A Review of the Relationship between Indigenous Australians, Dingoes (Canis dingo) and Domestic Dogs (Canis familiaris). Anthrozoös, 22, 111-128.

Smith, B., & Litchfield, C. (in press). Assessing effectiveness of environmental enrichment in reducing stereotypic swimming in two captive Australian Sea Lions (Neophoca cinerea). Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science.

Whiten, A., Horner, V., Litchfield, C., and Marshall-Pescini, S. (2004). How do apes ape? Learning and Behaviour, 32, 36-52.

Boyd, C. M., Fotheringham, B., Litchfield, C. A., McBryde, I., Metzer, J. C., Scanlon, P., & Winefield, A. H. (2004). Fear of dogs in a community sample: the effects of age, gender and prior experience of canine aggression. Anthrozoös, 17, 146-161

Litchfield, C. (2001). Competing for responsible tourists in the right numbers. Gorilla Journal, 22, 38-40. Available online at: Berggorilla & Regenwald Direkthilfe Web Site

SCIENCE BOOKS FOR CHILDREN:
Litchfield, C.A. (2009). The Chimpanzee Book: Apes like Us. Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia: Black Dog Books (peer reviewed by Professor Colin Groves, Australian National University)

Litchfield, C.A. (2009). The Gorilla Book: Born to be Wild. Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia: Black Dog Books (peer reviewed by Professor Colin Groves, Australian National University)

Litchfield, C.A. (2009). Saving Pandas. Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia: Black Dog Books (peer reviewed by Dr Richard Reina, Monash University)

BOOK CHAPTERS:
Litchfield, C.A. (2008). Responsible tourism: a conservation tool or conservation threat? In: T.S. Stoinski, H.D. Steklis, and P.T. Mehlman (Eds.), Conservation in the 21st Century: Gorillas as a Case Study (Chapter 4, pp.107-127). New York: Springer

Litchfield, C. (2001). Responsible tourism with great apes in Uganda. In: S.F. McCool, and R.N. Moisey (Eds.), Tourism, Recreation and Sustainability. Wallingford, Oxon, UK: CAB International.

BOOK:
Litchfield, C.A. (1997). Treading Lightly: Responsible Tourism with the African Great Apes. Adelaide, Australia: Travellers' Medical and Vaccination Centre.

I am able to provide media comment in the following areas of expertise:

Discipline: Tourism

• Great Ape tourism
• responsible tourism
• promoting standardised rules for wildlife tourism
• minimising transfer of disease between humans and wildlife