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Dr Sarah Spooner

Conservation Fellow Alumna

  • Qualifications BA (Hons) University of Cambridge, UK, 2009; MSc University of York, UK, 2014; PhD Environmental Economics, University of York, UK, 2017
  • Focus area
    People Places Policy Populations
  • Location
    At the Zoo
  • Additional Information Postdoctoral Focus - Evaluating the impact of zoos on animals and society

I am a post-doctorate researcher focusing on the wider value of zoos to society and species conservation. Over the two years of this research position I aim to conduct systematic evaluations of the key areas that zoos work in and, produce a model of zoos’ role in the 21st Century and beyond. In addition to evaluating the more traditional objectives of zoos, such as conservation breeding and species reintroduction, I will include the broader impacts on communities, public health and, perception of conservation.

I have worked in the zoo industry for over a decade starting initially as a Volunteer, then as a Keeper/Education Officer and, most recently, as an Education and Research Manager. My doctorate thesis focused on evaluating education in zoos. This included an examination of the role of live animal shows (and non-animal alternatives) at delivering conservation education to the public. More recently, my work has focused on the impacts of close animal encounters on both animals and humans.

In addition to my role at Chester Zoo, I am working with the red panda GSMP (Global Species Management Plan) to examine the prevalence and impact of red panda (Ailurus fulgens) ‘meet the animal’ experiences globally. I am also a Senior Visiting Fellow for the Animal, Rural and, Environmental Sciences Department at Nottingham Trent University, UK.

My research is highly interdisciplinary and I use mixed methods techniques to capture the broad picture.

Publications:
  • Spooner S.L., Jensen E.A., Tracey L., Marshall A.R. (2022) What we (still do not) know about the educational impact of zoos and aquariums In J. Fraser, J.E. Heimich & K. Riedinger (Eds) Zoos and Aquariums in the Public Mind. Springer International Publishing
  • Glatston, A., Whitehouse-Tedd, K., Farnworth, M. & Spooner S.L (2021) Red panda husbandry for reproductive management. In A. Glatson (Ed) Red Panda (2nd Edition) Biology and Conservation of the First Panda. Academic Press
  • Spooner, S.L., & Stride, J.R. (2021) Animal-Human Two-Shot Images: Their Out-Of-Context Interpretation and the Implications for Zoo and Conservation Settings. Zoo Biology, 1-12. https://doi.org/10.1002/zoo.21636
  • Spooner, S.L., Farnworth, M.J, Ward, S.J., Whitehouse-Tedd, K. (2021) Conservation education: are captive animals effective ambassadors and is there any cost to their welfare? Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens 2021, 2, 41–65. https://doi.org/10.3390/ jzbg2010004
  • Spooner, S.L., Jensen E., Tracey, L., Marshall, A. R. (2020) Evaluating the Effectiveness of Live Animal Shows at Delivering Information to Zoo Audiences. International Journal of Science Education: Part B. https://doi.org/10.1080/21548455.2020.1851424
  • Spooner, S.L., Jensen E., Tracey, L., Marshall, A. R. (2019) Evaluating the Impacts of Theatre-based Wildlife and Conservation Education at the Zoo. Journal of Environmental Education Research (25) 8. https://doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2019.1569201
  • Whitehouse-Tedd, K., Spooner, S.L., & Whitehouse-Tedd, G. (2020) Making Training Educational for Zoo Visitors, in V. Melfi, N. Dorey and S. Ward, Zoo Animal Learning and Training
  • Whitehouse-Tedd, K.*, Spooner, S. L.*, Scott, L. & Lozano-Martinez, J. (2018). Animal Ambassador Encounter Programmes in Zoos: Current Status and Future Research Needs, in M. Berger and S. Corbett, Zoo Animals: Breeding, Welfare and Public Interactions (Nova Publishing)