PhD research student
Title of research: Understanding the motivational drivers of close-hand wildlife encounters in New Zealand
Supervisors: Professor Lloyd Davis and Dr Wiebke Finkler
Qualifications:BSc in Zoology (Otago), BSc(Hons) in Biological Sciences (Auckland).
Research summary
Interactions between human visitors and wildlife occur frequently at many New Zealand locations. However, close-hand interactions such as feeding and encroachment can have detrimental impacts for both parties. My research seeks to explore the drivers of tourists' behaviour toward kea, fur seals, and sea lions at prominent tourist destinations around New Zealand. Understanding these motives will provide a foundation to design effective campaigns that foster pro-wildlife behaviours in visitors, effectively aiding the conservation of these important species.
Research interests
- Tourist behaviour
- Behavioural change
- Social media marketing
- Motivation research