THE JOY AND PRIVILEGE OF DOING PHD FIELDWORK
First published on Medium May 2, 2022
I really don’t think I would have finished (or even started!) my PhD if I didn’t have a topic that not only excited and interested me, but allowed me to travel and experience different places and cultures.
WHY I STOPPED RIDING MY HORSE
First published on Medium Feb 14, 2022
“When you hit the dirt, get straight back on, or you’ll never get on again.” These were the wise and somewhat threatening words of my instructor at a time when I was just getting the hang of riding and, at the same time, the hang of falling off.
A WELFARE GUIDE FOR HORSE RIDING ON HOLIDAY
First published on Medium Jan 12, 2022
I’ve loved horses for as long as I can remember, and have always wanted to interact with them in a non-harmful way. I’m also a passionate traveler, and have ridden horses in many different countries, including the UK, France, Austria, India and Vanuatu. But not all of my experiences riding while traveling have been positive.
WHAT AN INDIAN ANIMAL HOSPITAL TAUGHT ME ABOUT DOG WELFARE
First published on Medium in “Creatures” Oct 27, 2021
Based on the outskirts of the Indian city of Udaipur, Animal Aid Unlimited is a hospital that encourages tourists and locals to spend time working with rescued animals. Udaipur is the “White City” of the state of Rajasthan, known for its intricate, white-painted Mughal architecture, clear blue lakes and verdant hills.
DOES CONSERVATION TRUMP ANIMAL WELFARE IN ZOOS?
First published on Medium in “Creatures” Oct 1, 2021
Some of my best childhood experiences involved long, happy days spent observing, feeding and touching animals at zoos and wildlife parks. My love for animals has carried through to my adult life, and my academic education in the field of animal studies.
I WAS ATTACKED BY A MACAQUE, AND IT WAS MY FAULT.
First published on Medium in “Creatures” Sep 4, 2021
Some years ago, I volunteered with monkeys in India who had been rescued from situations where their welfare was threatened. Illegally poached from the wild, some monkeys had been used as pets, while others were injured or orphaned youngsters requiring care. Others had captured by people who forced them to entertain tourists.
I PAID TO VOLUNTEER AND IT WAS A SHAM
First published on Medium in “Creatures” Aug 11, 2021
Ever since I first started backpacking almost two decades ago, I’ve had a passion for volunteering with animals while travelling. This passion has taken me around the world, where I have worked with a variety of creatures — from endangered sea turtles in Bali, Indonesia, to stray dogs and elephants in Thailand and holy cows in India.
CAN TOURISTS & TURTLES COEXIST ON KUTA BEACH?
First published on Medium in “Creatures” July 25, 2021
As part of my PhD, I conducted research in Bali, Indonesia with the Kuta Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center, run by the not-for-profit Bali Sea Turtle Society. The centre is focused on the conservation of the endangered Olive Ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) on busy Kuta Beach, in the south of the island. Female Olive Ridley turtles nest every year and always return to the beaches where they were born to lay their eggs.
STUDYING THE SOI DOGS OF BANGKOK
First published on Medium in “Creatures” July 18, 2021
Almost half a million stray dogs live on the bustling streets — or sois — of Bangkok. Soi dogs live difficult lives, finding shelter where they can under cars and shopfront awnings, suffering from traffic accidents and health problems, and scavenging for food from wherever they can. But they are also cared for by people who live in Bangkok — organisations, and individuals who work together to improve their welfare.
WHY BLACK CATS ARE UNLUCKY
First published on medium in “creatures” June 25, 2021
Black cats have long been viewed under a lens of suspicion and superstition, a negative connotation tied to the colour’s symbolic affiliation with death, grief and evil.
From the 13th to 17th centuries, in Early Christian European culture, black cats were mythologised as having strong associations with witchcraft. Old tales tell of black cats as witches’ supernatural familiars, or of witches themselves in feline form, and owning any cat — all the worse a black one — was incriminating evidence of a woman’s supposed involvement in the dark arts.
A TALE OF TWO HORSES IN LOVE
First published on medium in “creatures” May 29, 2021
My two horses — Fly and Chester — have been together for almost 15 years. They were recently interviewed for the popular equine-for-equine dating app Neigh-bours* about their long-lasting relationship.
Neigh-bours: Tell us about yourselves. What’s your age, colour, breed and height?
Fly: I’m a 20-year-old grey Australian Stockhorse, 15.3 hands high.
Chester: I’m a 29-year-old palomino Quarter Horse, 15.0 hands high
5 SIGNS YOUR OLDER FELINE MIGHT BE A HYPERCAT
First published on medium in “creatures” May 19, 2021
My cat Izzy may look like a kitten, but she’s actually 15 years old — officially “geriatric”. I rescued her as a three-month old stray and she’s lived a comfortable life, being very much loved and doted upon into her old age.
I recently noticed small changes in Izzy’s appearance and behaviour that I put down to age or new circumstances, but thanks to a diagnosis from an excellent vet I learned she has feline hyperthyroidism — a common condition in older cats that arises when tumours form on the thyroid glands, producing excessive thyroid hormones and causing hypertension and and hyperactivity. As the vet put it, Izzy had become a hypercat!