Dr Alexandra Zimmermann

I specialise in human-wildlife conflict, in particular conflict analysis and mediation, policy and training. My applied work concentrates mostly on community engagement and stakeholder dialogue, while my research interests are centred on quantitative and qualitative social research on livelihoods and the cultural and socio-economic aspects of living near wildlife.

Based at the Wildlife Conservation Research Unit of Oxford University, I oversee the partnership between Chester Zoo and WildCRU, which comprises an interdisciplinary team of doctoral and postdoctoral researchers (Chester Zoo Scholars and Fellows). Our group studies a range of topics in human-wildlife conflict, including human dimensions, spatial patterns, economic and livelihood aspects, social marketing, and species charisma.

I am also Chair of the IUCN SSC Human-Wildlife Conflict Task Force, a Member of the IUCN SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group, the Cat Specialist Group, IUCN SOS Technical Advisory Board, and the Conservation Advisory Board of Elephant Family.

During my previous role at Chester Zoo as of Head of Conservation Science, I led the Assam Haathi Project in India, the Living with Tigers Project in Nepal, the Andean Bears Project in Bolivia and Caatinga Jaguar Project in Brazil, and developed a stakeholder process for fruit bat conflict mitigation in Mauritius. I also led Chester Zoo’s five UK government Darwin Initiative grants on human-wildlife conflict in India, Indonesia, Nepal and Bolivia.

Key publications

Marchini, S., Ferraz, K., Zimmermann, A., Guimarães-Luiz, T., Morato, R., Correa, P. & Macdonald. D.W. (in press). Planning for coexistence in a complex human-dominated world. In: Frank, B., Glikman, JA & Marchini, S. Human-Wildlife Interactions: Turning Conflicts Into Coexistence? Cambridge University Press.

Vucetich, J.A., Burnham, D.,  Macdonald, E.A., Bruskotter, J.T., Marchini, S., Zimmermann, A., Macdonald, D.W. 2018.  Just conservation: what is it and should we pursue it? Biological Conservation, 221, 23-33.

Pooley, M. Barua, W. Beinart, A. Dickman, G. Holmes, J. Lorimer, A.J. Loveridge, D.W. Macdonald, G. Marvin, S. Redpath, C. Sillero-Zubiri, A. Zimmermann, & E.J. Milner-Gulland (2017) An interdisciplinary review of current and future approaches to improving human–predator relations. Conservation Biology, 31(03):513-523

Zimmermann, A., (2014). Jaguars and people: a range‐wide analysis of human‐wildlife conflict. D.Phil. Thesis. Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Zoology Department, University of Oxford.

Wilson, S., Davies, T.E., Hazarika, N. & Zimmermann, A. (2013) Understanding Patterns of Human-Elephant Conflict in Assam: An Analysis to Inform Mitigation Strategies. Oryx.

Chartier, L., Zimmermann, A. & Ladle, R.J. (2011). Habitat loss and human–elephant conflict in Assam, India: does a critical threshold exist?. Oryx. 45 (04): 528-533.

Davies, T. E., Wilson, S., Hazarika, N., Chakrabarty, J., Das, D., Hodgson, D. J. & Zimmermann, A. (2011), Effectiveness of intervention methods against crop-raiding elephants. Conservation Letters. 4: 346-354

Zimmermann, A., Baker, N., Inskip, C. Linnell, J.D.C., Marchini, S., Odden J., Rasmussen G. & Treves, A. (2010) Contemporary views of human-carnivore conflicts on wild rangelands. In: Wild Rangelands: Conserving Wildlife While Maintaining Livestock in Semi-Arid Ecosystems. Editors: J. du Toit, R. Kock & J.C. Deutsch. Wiley-Blackwell, UK. 129-151.

Cavalcanti, S., Marchini, S., Zimmermann, A. , Gese, E.M. & Macdonald, D.W. (2010). Jaguars, livestock and people in Brazil: reality and perceptions behind the conflict. Biology and Conservation of Wild Felids. Eds D.W. Macdonald & A.J. Loveridge. Oxford University Press. Oxford UK. 383-402

Zimmermann, A. (2010). The role of zoos in contributing to in situ conservation. In: Wild Mammals in Captivity. D. Kleiman. et al. (Ed). Chicago University Press, Chicago. USA.

Inskip, C. & Zimmermann, A. (2009). Human-Felid Conflict: A Review of Patterns & Priorities Worldwide. Oryx 43 (1): 1-17.

Zimmermann, A., Davies, T.E., Hazarika, N., Wilson, S., Chakrabarty, J., Hazarika, B. & Das, JC. (2009). Community-based human-elephant conflict management in Assam. Gajah. IUCN SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group. 30: 34-40.

Zimmermann, A., Hatchwell,M., Dickie,L. & West, C. (2007) Zoos in the 21st Century: Catalysts for Conservation? Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK.

Zimmermann, A. & Wilkinson, R. (2007). The conservation mission in the wild: Zoos as conservation NGOs. In: Zoos in the 21st Century: Catalysts for Conservation? Ed. A. Zimmermann et al. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK. pp. 303-321

Leader-Williams, N., Balmford, A., Linke, M., Mace, G., Smith, R.J., Stevenson, M. Walter, O., West, Cd., & Zimmermann. (2007). Beyond the ark: Conservation biologists’ views of the achievements of zoos in conservation. In: Zoos in the 21st Century: Catalysts for Conservation? Ed. A. Zimmermann et al. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge UK. pp.236-256.

Mace, G., Balmford, A., Leader-Williams, N., Manica, A., Walter, O., West, C., & Zimmermann, A. (2007) Measuring zoos’ contributions to conservation: A proposal and trial. In: Zoos in the 21st Century: Catalysts for Conservation? Ed. A. Zimmermann et al. Cambridge University Press, pp. 322-342

Balmford, A., Leader-Williams, N., Mace, G., Manica, A., Walter, O., West, C., & Zimmermann, A. (2007) Message received? Quantifying the conservation education impact of UK zoos. In: Zoos in the 21st Century: Catalysts for Conservation? Ed. A. Zimmermann et al. Cambridge University Press, pp. 120-138.

Zimmermann, A., Walpole, M. J., & Leader-Williams, N. (2005) Cattle ranchers’ attitudes to conflicts with jaguars in the Pantanal of Brazil. Oryx. 39 (4): 406-412.