Scientific support for zoos, from protocol to dissemination of results
Our team of ethologists and veterinarians carries out research projects with your organisation, in particular on animal welfare: methodology, data collection and analysis, dissemination of results. Akongo is an approved research organisation: a company that commissions a research project from us can benefit from the French Research Tax Credit (Crédit d'Impôt Recherche, CIR).
Research in zoos, for the benefit of animals and species
What research projects change for your zoo
The results of a project are used at several levels, from day-to-day animal management to species conservation:
Animal welfare, day to day
The results help improve the management of the zoo's animals: diet, social group composition, enclosure design.
Decisions based on data
Your management choices can be based on scientific data collected on your animals.
Better knowledge of the species
Each project contributes to better knowledge of the species you house.
Conservation action in the wild
Data collected in captivity are often impossible to obtain otherwise. For example, they make it possible to test equipment before it is used on wildlife, or to study population genetics.
Shared results
The data are shared with the scientific community and with your visitors.
The stages of a project carried out with our team
A research project runs in four stages, followed by our team from start to finish:
- 1
Define the protocol
based on your objectives and a literature review, our team designs a protocol suited to the species and to your organisation.
- 2
Collect the data
data collection can be carried out by our team, by yours or by both together, or by hosting an intern (first- or second-year master's, gap year, post-master's).
- 3
Analyse the data
our team analyses the data collected and draws recommendations from them for the management of your animals.
- 4
Disseminate the results
the results can be shared with the scientific community (journals, conferences) and presented to your visitors.
On the park side, each project is followed in Animal Welfare Monitor: the request, actions, milestones and deliverables, on a sheet shared by your team and ours. Explore the Scientific projects module
Examples of projects carried out with organisations
Some of our team's research projects and interventions in organisations.
Conures - tamarins: a mixed species exhibit
Parc de Clères et Ménagerie du Jardin des Plantes, France
Developing multi-species enclosures while ensuring the well-being of all animals.
Learn more
Making feeding more complex for tigers in captivity
Beekse Bergen, Netherlands
Using stimulating feeding devices for tigers to promote physical exercise and their well-being
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Cohabitation of female Pygmy hippos
Parc Animalier d'Auvergne, France
An innovative study to facilitate captive management
Learn more
Dietary transition: towards a fruit-free diet for great apes
La Palmyre, France
What impact on social relationships and microbiota in great apes? Behavioural and microbiotic effects of dietary change
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Contact introduction for White-fronted lemurs
Poitiers, France
Reducing animal isolation through cooperation between zoos
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Research projects eligible for the French Research Tax Credit
Akongo is recognised as an approved research organisation by the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. A company that commissions a research service from us can therefore benefit from the French Research Tax Credit (Crédit d'Impôt Recherche, CIR):
- Expenses covered
those incurred for a research service related to ethology or animal welfare, commissioned from our team.
- Time spent by your teams
tools to measure it across the different research projects.
- Akongo research services
Up to 30% reimbursement of expenses incurred
