CQU students put animal welfare into practice
From puzzle feeders for emus to foraging challenges for chimpanzees, CQUniversity students recently swapped the classroom for Rockhampton Zoo, designing enrichment activities to support animal welfare and encourage natural behaviours.
As part of CQUniversity’s new Animal Behaviour and Welfare residential school, students from agriculture, science and education degrees worked alongside Zoo staff to develop practical enrichment solutions for a range of species.
The hands-on experience allowed students to apply animal welfare theory in a real-world setting while contributing ideas to ongoing welfare initiatives at the Zoo.
CQUniversity Agriculture Senior Lecturer Dr Jaime Manning said the residential school highlighted the growing importance of evidence-based animal welfare practices across multiple industries.
“Animal welfare is no longer just an expectation in zoos or production settings – it is becoming increasingly important across agriculture, education and environmental management,” Dr Manning said.
“This experience gave students the opportunity to move beyond theory and actively apply their knowledge in a practical environment.
“They were challenged to think critically about animal behaviour, solve problems and design enrichment activities that encouraged natural instincts and positive engagement.
“Working alongside Rockhampton Zoo staff also allowed students to see how animal welfare principles directly influence the wellbeing of animals in human care.
“These kinds of industry experiences are incredibly valuable because they help prepare students for careers across agriculture, education, environmental management and animal care.”
Rockhampton Zoo Curator Blair Chapman said enrichment played an important role in supporting positive physical and mental welfare outcomes for animals at the Zoo.
“A lot of our animals would naturally spend hours foraging, hunting or exploring in the wild, so enrichment is about creating opportunities for them to express those behaviours here at the Zoo,” Mr Chapman said.
“It can be as simple as changing how food is presented or introducing problem-solving activities that encourage the animals to think, move and engage with their environment.
“We were proud to work with CQUniversity on this initiative because it not only supports student learning, but also brings fresh ideas and perspectives into the Zoo.”
The residential school supported students enrolled in the Bachelor of Agriculture, Bachelor of Science and Environment and Bachelor of Secondary Education, reinforcing CQUniversity’s focus on industry-connected learning and practical experience.
