Geoff Hosey gained a BSc (Hons) in Zoology in 1970 and a PhD in Behavioural Ecology in 1974 from Manchester University. In 1976 he joined Bolton Institute (now University of Bolton) as a lecturer, and stayed there until his retirement in 2006, teaching behavioural biology, research methods and other aspects of biology to students in Biology and in Psychology. His research interests during this time became concentrated on primate behaviour and zoo animal welfare, both of which he still enjoys, though now as a hobby rather than as a job!

Vicky Melfi is Principal Lecturer in Human-Animal Interactions at Hartpury University Centre, Gloucestershire, UK. She has worked for over 25 years in the zoo profession in the UK, Ireland and Australia, and founded the conservation programme Selamatkan Yaki in Sulawesi, Indonesia. Vicky has held various academic appointments at the Universities of Exeter, Plymouth and Sydney. She gained a PhD in Zoology (Trinity College Dublin), an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare (University of Edinburgh) and a BSc (Hons) in Animal Science (University of Nottingham). She is a passionate advocate of professional/academic collaborations to support evidence based practice, to better understand human-animal interactions and improve animal welfare and conservation outcomes.

• 1: Geoff Hosey and Vicky Melfi: Introduction


• 2: James Serpell: Companion Animals


• 3: Susanne Waiblinger: Agricultural Animals


• 4: Kristine Coleman and Alison Heagerty: Laboratory Animals


• 5: Samantha Ward and Sally Sherwen: Zoo Animals


• 6: Ralf Buckley: Wild Animals and Tourists


• 7: Seth Magle: Urban Wildlife


• 8: Vicky Melfi and Geoff Hosey: Synthesis