About
I have been working with captive carnivores (primarily cheetahs) for the past 16 years, and have held positions ranging from zoo keeper, to veterinary nurse, as well as research officer and zoo biology lecturer. I obtained my PhD in Animal Nutritional Science from Massey University in New Zealand, where I investigated the role of secondary plant compounds in the reproductive and hepatic health of cheetahs and domestic cats. Since then I have completed research projects investigating dietary factors associated with gut health parameters in captive cheetahs, diet evaluation and digestibility studies in growing cheetah cubs, browse provision in captive rare ungulates, joint health supplement intervention studies in captive leopards, and development studies of hand-reared cheetahs. I have held supervisory positions on a number of MSc and PhD programs, including studies investigating hindgut fermentation in cheetahs, the use of livestock guarding dogs as a form of non-lethal predator control in South Africa, environmental enrichment in captive carnivores, gut-loading of feeder invertebrates for captive insectivores, and parasitology studies in zoological facilities.
I am currently the Scientific Advisor to Cheetah Outreach Trust (South Africa) and a Visiting Fellow at Nottingham Trent University in the UK, where I contribute to teaching and research responsibilities on the Zoo Biology BSc(Hons) and Endangered Species Recovery and Conservation MSc degrees. I am a fellow of the Higher Education Academy (UK) and serve as a sub-editor for the Journal of Applied Animal Nutrition and a reviewer for 6 other journals.
With a growing portfolio of international collaborators and expanding network of colleagues in the zoo and companion-animal management field, I have consulted on a variety of zoo-based projects and continue to publish peer-reviewed articles as well as book chapters and a book.
Joined
April 2016
