DAVID JOHN SHEPHERDSON, B.Sc., D.Phil.
Conservation Program Scientist, Oregon Zoo

David Shepherdson obtained a Bachelors Degree in Biology at University of Sussex in the UK 1981 and then pursued a Doctorate in Animal Behavior while studying the foraging behavior and space use of the European badger. In 1987 he accepted a research fellowship at the Zoological Society of London where he studied Zoo animal behavior and developed and assessed techniques for improving captive animal environments through environmental enrichment.

In 1991 he moved to the Oregon Zoo (then the Metro Washington Park Zoo) Portland, Oregon to continue and expand on this work with Dr. Jill Mellen. He has published widely in the fields of environmental enrichment, zoo conservation and science education. David is currently an associate editor for the journal Zoo Biology. In 1993, with Jill Mellen he co-chaired the first international conference on environmental enrichment in Portland which resulted in the publication “Second Nature: environmental enrichment for zoo animals” published by Smithsonian Press. He has worked hard in his capacity as Co-Chair to the AZA Behavior and Husbandry Advisory Group (BAG) to increase the profile of environmental enrichment in AZA zoos and to encourage AZA institutions to adopt institutional enrichment programs.

Education

• Degree B.Sc.(Hons), Biology. University of Sussex, UK, 1982
• Advanced Degree D. Phil. Ethology. University of Sussex, UK, 1986. Space use and foraging in the European badger (Meles meles L.)

Experience/Responsibilities

1990-Present Oregon Zoo – Conservation Program Scientist

• Develop, maintain and coordinate a program of environmental enrichment research and training at the zoo
• Devise, facilitate and seek funding for zoo science education programs
• Develop, maintain and coordinate conservation programs
• Provide scientific advice and information to animal husbandry staff
• Member and coordinator of the International Environmental Enrichment Conference Committee
• Co-Chair of the AZA Behavioral Advisory Group
• Instructor for Portland State University Conservation Biology Class
• Program Coordinator for “Science: A View From the Zoo” 94-96, $274,000 budget, staff of two
• Implemented and presented program of Environmental Enrichment workshops for US zoos
• Invited to Guatemala City Zoo to present a 5-day Environmental Enrichment Workshop, 1994
• Co-Chaired First International Conference on Environmental Enrichment, 1993
• Invited speaker at the 6th World Conference on Breeding Endangered Species, UK, 1992
• Invited Speaker at the 2nd Conference on Environmental Enrichment, Denmark, 1995

1986-1990 Zoological Society of London, UK - Research Fellow/Instructor

• Devised, obtained funding for, and conducted research on zoo animal behavior
• Coordinated and supervised undergraduate and graduate research projects
• Lectured at Universities on zoo animal behavior and welfare
• Authored papers in refereed scientific journals and presented papers at International meetings
• Implemented and supervised an animal enrichment/welfare program at the zoo
• Invited Speaker at the International Primatology Society Conference, Brazil, 1988

1985 East Sussex County Council, UK - Animal Behavior Consultant

• Wildlife impact assessments

1982-1986 University of Sussex, UK - Graduate Student

• Field work research on the European Badger
• Postgraduate Research/Teaching Assistant
• Teaching of subjects including animal physiology, ethology, ecology, computing, animal behavior.

Professional Affiliations/Responsibilities

• Associate Editor for the refereed scientific journal Zoo Biology
• Consulting Editor for the International newsletter Shape of Enrichment
• Co-Chair AZA Behavior and Husbandry Advisory Group
• Adjunct Associate Professor Portland State University, Portland, OR.
• Portland Community College Animal Care and Use Committee Member

Selected Publications

Roper, T.J.; Shepherdson, D.J.; Davies, J.M. (1986). Scent marking with feces and anal secretion in the European badger (Meles meles). Behaviour 97:94-117.

Davies, J.M.; Roper, T.J.; Shepherdson, D.J.(1987). Seasonal distribution of road kills in the European badger (Meles meles). Journal of the Zoological Society of London. 211:525-529.

Shepherdson, D.J. (1988). The application of behavioural enrichment in zoos. Primate Report 22:35-42.

Shepherdson, D.J.; Roper, T.J.; Lups ,P. (1990). Diet, Food availability and foraging behaviour of badgers (Meles meles L.) in Southern England. Z. Saugetierkunde 55:81-93.

Shepherdson, D.J.; Brownback, T.; Tinkler, D. (1990). Putting the wild back into zoos: enriching the zoo environment. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 28 (3):300.

Gilloux, I.; Gurnell, J.; Shepherdson, D.J. (1992) An enrichment device for great apes. Animal Welfare 1:279-289.

Shepherdson, D.J. (1992). Environmental enrichment: an overview. In Proceedings of the American Association of Zoo Parks and Aquariums Annual Conference. Wheeling, WV, AAZPA: pp100-103.

Shepherdson, D.J. (1993). Why animals do what they do. Wildlife Conservation 96(1):76-77.

Shepherdson, D.J.; Carlstead, K.; Mellen, J.; Seidensticker, J. (1993). Environmental enrichment through naturalistic feeding in small cats. Zoo Biology 12:203-216.

Carlstead, K., Shepherdson, D. J. (2000). Alleviating stress in zoo animals with environmental enrichment. In: The biology of animal stress: basic principles and implications for animal welfare. Eds. G.P. Moberg & J.A. Mench. CABI Publishing. pp. 337-354.

Carlstead, K.; Shepherdson, D.J. (1994) Effects of Environmental Enrichment on Reproduction. Zoo Biology 13 (5):447-459.

Shepherdson, D.J.; Dimeo-Ediger, N. (1994). Science: A View From the Zoo. In Proceedings of the American Association of Zoological Parks and Aquariums Annual Conference, 321-328. Wheeling W.Va.: AAZPA. pp 186.

Shepherdson, D.J. (1995). Research Advantages of Enriched Environments. Zoo Biology 14:489-490.

Shepherdson, D.J. (1995). Bear Enrichment. North American Regional Polar Bear Studbook. ublished by La Societe Zoologique de Granby 347 Bourget, Granby, Quebec, Canada. J2G 1E8

Shepherdson, D.J.; Arick, J., Dimeo-Ediger, N., Sheng, Y.S. (1995). Science: A View From the Zoo. In Proceedings of the American Zoo and Aquarium Association Annual Conference, 473-476. Wheeling W.Va.: AZA.

Roper, T.J., Findlay, S.R., Lups, P., Shepherdson, D.J. (1995). Damage by badgers Meles meles to wheat Tritium vulgare and barley Hordeum sativum crops. Journal of Applied Ecology 32:720-726.

Mellen, J., Shepherdson, D.J. (1997). Environmental enrichment for felids: an intergrated approach. International Zoo Yearbook 35:191-197.

Shepherdson, D.J., Mellen, J.D., Hutchins, M. (1998). Second Nature: environmental enrichment for captive animals. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution.

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