No roles at Tangen Zoo anyhow

At a research visit last winter, I agreed to be the research contact of Tangen zoo, Norway. There was also talk of me joining the board of the zoo. However, a few months later it became clear that none of this would materialise, since the owner of the zoo at the time decided to sell it to new owners. This is a pity, I think, since he had entertained a progressive animal welfare agenda (which was what convinced me to accept the two offers).

See also:

Research visit to Tangen zoo conducted; to be zoo's research contact (13 March 2014)

Research visit to Tangen zoo conducted; to be zoo's research contact

Sunday to Tuesday this last week, March 9th to 11th, I have been conducting a research visit to Tangen zoo (formerly Amadeus zoo) in Stange in Hedmark, Norway. I was hosted by zoo owner Runar Næss and my research colleague in the research project "Animals in changing environments: Cultural mediation and semiotic analysis" Laura Kiiroja, who currently resides in the zoo.

During the visit I agreed to be a research contact for Tangen zoo, a role which will involve being a scientific advisor when it comes to research carried out in the park. Currently the zoo houses socialized foxes, and they are working to get permission to hold socialized wolves too. This would likely involve long-term observations of some sort from my side - some ideas are brewing, but some of these depend on further research funding.

I got to see most of the animals close-up, including the two camels, an iguana, a number of snakes (constrictors), several curious silver monkeys, a zebra, and a not very friendly alligator. Throughout the visit I took photos and filmed - part of this material might be used for the perception studies I will soon carry out with Paul Thibault.

Research visit: Oslo I

Monday to Wednesday October 11th-13th I'll conduct my first comprehensive research visit to Oslo (not counting my first brief visit in this respect to the National Library in May).

Plans for the 3-day visit include:
* research in the library of Statistics Norway
* research in the National Library of Norway
* and not least a meeting with Runar Næss (the man behind Animal Zoolution) - who is of great interest to me due to (a) his experience with socializing wolves and (b) his role as the founder of the pro-wolf activist organization/network Alpha-gruppen.

At a second research visit to Oslo, in November, I intend to meet with a number of relevant scholars and researchers.