Origins and Ethos
Chivalric - adjective pertaining to chivalry; chivalrous
Chivalry - noun 1. the ideal qualifications of a knight, including honour, courtesy, generosity, valour, and compassion
2. the customs and institution of medieval knighthood
Ethology - noun 1. the study of animal behavior with emphasis on the behavioral patterns that occur in natural environments.
2. from Greek: ethos "character"; and -logia "the study of"
In the Middle Ages, the codes of chivalry directed knights in their endeavours to protect the weak and innocent by means of virtues such as mercy, courage, valour and fairness. These same virtues are espoused by Chivalric Ethology in our efforts to improve the individual welfare, protection and right to happiness of all animals.
Chivalry - noun 1. the ideal qualifications of a knight, including honour, courtesy, generosity, valour, and compassion
2. the customs and institution of medieval knighthood
Ethology - noun 1. the study of animal behavior with emphasis on the behavioral patterns that occur in natural environments.
2. from Greek: ethos "character"; and -logia "the study of"
In the Middle Ages, the codes of chivalry directed knights in their endeavours to protect the weak and innocent by means of virtues such as mercy, courage, valour and fairness. These same virtues are espoused by Chivalric Ethology in our efforts to improve the individual welfare, protection and right to happiness of all animals.
Chivalric Ethology believes all animals have intrinsic worth and are deserving of a rich and meaningful life. As such, they should be treated with respect and compassion. Moreover, many animals, especially those we are most familiar with as pets, in zoos, aquariums, farms and as working animals, are conscious, sentient and sensory; meaning they are self-aware with physical and emotional feelings akin (different in degree rather in kind) to our own. With cognitive capabilities like these, animals sit naturally in the same care niche as small children, needing and deserving of protection and, in cases of living in captivity, provision. Animals are not property or “things,” but rather living organisms, subjects of a life, who are worthy of our compassion, respect, friendship and support.
Chivalric Ethology seeks to understand animals' psychological and cognitive needs by applying scientific understanding and research with behavioural husbandry techniques to maximize captive animal welfare, well-being and social relationships. Behavioural research, sensory stimulation, preference testing, positive reinforcement training, natural-ability challenges and social and environmental enrichment are some of the tools used to help the animals. Our Chivalry in practice further afield Chivalric Ethology fiercely and proudly supports international animal welfare and rescue organizations and wildlife charities who respond on the ground to human-inflicted suffering, in natural and environmental disasters and war zones, and in depleted habitats to save wild, companion, farm, working and zoo animals; reuniting them with owners, offering food and medical care and providing emergency shelter and animal welfare education. Other ambassadorial charities provide rescue for animals kept in appalling and exploitative captive conditions, providing emergency medical assistance and offering the often disabled animals permanent safe homes in specialist sanctuaries. Links to these amazing organizations can be found here. Chivalric Ethology also actively engages with and promotes Compassionate Conservation for wildlife. It is an ethos that takes the value of the individual sentient animal, each with its own desires and needs and a capacity to suffer, into strong account in conservation practice. Consideration of animal welfare in a conservation context naturally leads to better conservation outcomes. |
Meet the Team
An active contributor in the international zoo industry, Penny Wood is an applied Ethologist and Welfare Scientist specializing in Captive Animal Welfare and Cognitive Behaviours (including social cognition, animal emotions, sensory perceptions, co-operation, and anthrozoology).
Committed to providing optimal positive welfare for captive and working animals, Penny studies the sensory and cognitive world (umwelt) of species in order to interpret their behaviour, understand their needs and assess and improve their welfare. Zoos and private animal collections invite her to consult with them across a range of animal behaviour, welfare, training, ethics and enrichment situations. She has worked with a variety of terrestrial and marine mammal species and, in her research, specializes in mammalian carnivores.
Although she works primarily to improve the psychological welfare of captive animals, Penny is a dedicated conservationist and accepts projects focused on endangered species and the welfare of wild populations. Areas of special interest include carnivore reintroductions (re-wilding), Compassionate Conservation and the eradication of wildlife poaching and hunting.
Committed to providing optimal positive welfare for captive and working animals, Penny studies the sensory and cognitive world (umwelt) of species in order to interpret their behaviour, understand their needs and assess and improve their welfare. Zoos and private animal collections invite her to consult with them across a range of animal behaviour, welfare, training, ethics and enrichment situations. She has worked with a variety of terrestrial and marine mammal species and, in her research, specializes in mammalian carnivores.
Although she works primarily to improve the psychological welfare of captive animals, Penny is a dedicated conservationist and accepts projects focused on endangered species and the welfare of wild populations. Areas of special interest include carnivore reintroductions (re-wilding), Compassionate Conservation and the eradication of wildlife poaching and hunting.
History: Penny started working with animals as a volunteer with the Donkey Sanctuary in Australia and then as a carnivore keeper at the Birmingham Wildlife Conservation Park in England. She graduated with a BA and a BSc in Zoology and Behavioural Neuroscience from the University of Melbourne and undertook an honours project in the welfare of kangaroos in eco-tourism. She has taken further studies in specialist areas including Animal Welfare, Anthrozoology, Wildlife First Aid, Canine Psychology, Positive Reinforcement Training, and Big Cat husbandry training. She has worked with zoos in the US, the UK and Australia and is a professional member of several international animal welfare, ethics, training, and ethological associations.
Her passion for animals was evident from childhood when she would spend hours building trust with stray cats, rescuing injured wildlife, voraciously reading zoological tomes and crying on rainy nights for all the animals getting cold and wet. At five years old, whilst on a school excursion to Melbourne Zoo, Penny witnessed a keeper talk about sea lions and in that moment resolved to work with and for the welfare of animals in captivity. Favourite childhood holidays were spent nature walking and wildlife spotting in the bush or rainforest, or on working farms with dozens of animals to care for. Her early heroes included James Herriot, Penny Patterson and Koko the gorilla, Jane Goodall, and Jacques Cousteau.
Penny currently lives in the UK with her much-adored rescue cat Holly, who flew with her from Australia.
Her passion for animals was evident from childhood when she would spend hours building trust with stray cats, rescuing injured wildlife, voraciously reading zoological tomes and crying on rainy nights for all the animals getting cold and wet. At five years old, whilst on a school excursion to Melbourne Zoo, Penny witnessed a keeper talk about sea lions and in that moment resolved to work with and for the welfare of animals in captivity. Favourite childhood holidays were spent nature walking and wildlife spotting in the bush or rainforest, or on working farms with dozens of animals to care for. Her early heroes included James Herriot, Penny Patterson and Koko the gorilla, Jane Goodall, and Jacques Cousteau.
Penny currently lives in the UK with her much-adored rescue cat Holly, who flew with her from Australia.
Mat Richards
An acclaimed positive reinforcement animal trainer, Mat Richards has been a Falconer for over 25 years and a Professional Animal Trainer for over 15 years.
Mat Richards started his affiliation with animals at the tender age of 10, as a dedicated volunteer at a local wildlife rehabilitation centre rescuing, treating and releasing animals back into their natural habitats. His passion for animals took him on a pathway to Scotland and then Europe before returning to the UK. He has acquired a global network of colleagues and contacts and is a member of key animal behaviour associations, regularly being invited to zoological collections and conferences as a guest and speaker.
Mat specializes in positive reinforcement of parrots, large carnivores and marine mammals. He pioneered the use of operant conditioning with birds of prey, demonstrating that working animals perform better with rewards and trust. He has also worked with a wide variety of exotic species including elephants, giraffe, large and small primates, many bird species, reptiles and even fish! As an educational presenter within zoos, Mat’s role included liaising with the media and working closely with documentary crews as the key animal handler and trainer.
Mat has trained in marine parks, zoos, research and conservation projects and wildlife parks in Europe, the United States and Canada. He is a strong advocate for conservation, having been closely involved with Ape Action Africa, lemur conservation in Madagascar and Birdlife Malta. A key long-term focus is to globally promote the understanding that a trust-based, positive relationship between animals and people creates more rewarding interactions and is the best way to resolve behavioural issues.
Currently, Mat is a freelance Animal Training Consultant working with zoological collections assisting with training both staff and animals. He also undertakes projects to work one-on-one with pet owners and their animals. In his own time, Mat will be found skydiving, rock climbing, scuba diving, hiking, travelling the world and always outdoors, getting involved with nature as often as possible.
Mat Richards started his affiliation with animals at the tender age of 10, as a dedicated volunteer at a local wildlife rehabilitation centre rescuing, treating and releasing animals back into their natural habitats. His passion for animals took him on a pathway to Scotland and then Europe before returning to the UK. He has acquired a global network of colleagues and contacts and is a member of key animal behaviour associations, regularly being invited to zoological collections and conferences as a guest and speaker.
Mat specializes in positive reinforcement of parrots, large carnivores and marine mammals. He pioneered the use of operant conditioning with birds of prey, demonstrating that working animals perform better with rewards and trust. He has also worked with a wide variety of exotic species including elephants, giraffe, large and small primates, many bird species, reptiles and even fish! As an educational presenter within zoos, Mat’s role included liaising with the media and working closely with documentary crews as the key animal handler and trainer.
Mat has trained in marine parks, zoos, research and conservation projects and wildlife parks in Europe, the United States and Canada. He is a strong advocate for conservation, having been closely involved with Ape Action Africa, lemur conservation in Madagascar and Birdlife Malta. A key long-term focus is to globally promote the understanding that a trust-based, positive relationship between animals and people creates more rewarding interactions and is the best way to resolve behavioural issues.
Currently, Mat is a freelance Animal Training Consultant working with zoological collections assisting with training both staff and animals. He also undertakes projects to work one-on-one with pet owners and their animals. In his own time, Mat will be found skydiving, rock climbing, scuba diving, hiking, travelling the world and always outdoors, getting involved with nature as often as possible.
Charlie Paul
Charlie is a gifted scientific researcher and animal keeper, specialized in vertebrate sensory organs and captive animal management using a species-specific approach to their cognition.
Charlie's love of animals was established from a young age. Her Dad was a fundamental influence in this, filling her childhood with pets, strays and rescued baby birds. Her mother took Charlie to her first ballet class at age four and, after she cried for the entire hour, it was decided that horse riding would be a better option. Horses played a major role in developing Charlie's understanding of animal cognition and leading her to explore a variety of animal training ideologies. From this personal experience and investigation into horse training, she composed a system can be universally applied to all captive animal training strategies. The aim of trainers is, firstly, to encourage animals to be relaxed in their environment, then to develop and utilize a thorough comprehension of species-specific cognition. The combination of these factors creates a platform from which trust is built and tailored training can advance. |
Charlie read Zoology at the University of Sheffield , focusing on evolution, animal behaviour and cognition. She completed a Research Masters in Evolutionary Genetics, investigating the genetic and embryological development of teeth, Ampullae of Lorenzini and tastebuds in the Lesser Spotted Catshark. By using a Chondrichthyan model, insight is gained into early vertebrate sensory organ evolution allowing scientists to explore how the core genetic complex which controls sensory organ development has been adapted in modern vertebrate species.
During the summer of 2011, Charlie undertook a three month placement on the Giraffe section at Chester Zoo which ignited her specialized interest in Captive Animal Management. She has worked across several zoological collections and rescue sanctuaries, frequently working with pinnipeds, ungulates and small mammals. She currently works as a Zoo Keeper at Drusillas Park and is studying towards the Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals Diploma.
During the summer of 2011, Charlie undertook a three month placement on the Giraffe section at Chester Zoo which ignited her specialized interest in Captive Animal Management. She has worked across several zoological collections and rescue sanctuaries, frequently working with pinnipeds, ungulates and small mammals. She currently works as a Zoo Keeper at Drusillas Park and is studying towards the Management of Zoo and Aquarium Animals Diploma.