Blogger Profile: Matt Anderson
Dr. Matt Anderson is the Director of Behavioral Biology at the San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research. He oversees and is actively involved in projects that utilize the study of animal behavior to help conserve species in our collection and in the wild. This innovative approach is multifaceted and includes the study of animal communication (with an emphasis on bioacoustics), monitoring sex steroid and stress hormone levels in relation to many aspects of behavior, and the assessment of animal welfare in the zoo’s animal collection. Prior to arriving in San Diego, Matt received an undergraduate degree in Zoology (with honors) from the University of Liverpool, and subsequently studied behavior, reproduction, bioacoustics and anatomy in nocturnal primates for his Ph.D. in Biological Anthropology. During his Ph.D. he studied and also lectured at Oxford Brookes University, Oxford University, the Zoological Society of London, and the University of Cambridge.
The Mockingbird Said What?!
It turns out that at the very end of their version of the cactus wren’s song, mocking birds simply can’t help but blurt out a cloud of expletives! read more
Exciting Times at the Okapi Barn!
The okapi barn at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park has been a bustling place of late. Our training program has been coming along beautifully; we can now perform[.....]
Rainy Days in Sensory Ecology Lab
The arrival of heavy rain in San Diego County brought about many changes in animal behavior at the San Diego Zoo’s Wild Animal Park. Some species enjoyed the change in[.....]
Secret Language of the Okapi
Okapis are majestic yet secretive animals. Native to the lush rain forests of Zaire, they remained hidden within the forest’s dense vegetation for centuries before Western scientists became aware of[.....]
