Signs stating ‘Do not feed the animals’ are ubiquitous in zoos, national parks and urban spaces. They stress that uncontrolled feeding by people can affect animal health, alter wild animal behaviour and create public hygiene and nuisance issues. However, humans appear to have a deep-seated proclivity to feed animals.

Many ancient cults fed animals, some modern religions require it, and feeding is often actively encouraged as a tourist attraction. Millions of people feed wildlife in gardens and in 2018, the pet-food industry was worth £2.7 billion in the UK alone.

This project will undertake a deep-time and cross-cultural investigation to uncover the roots of animal feeding and critique the benefits/risks for all concerned. Particularly, we will test our hypothesis that animal domestication itself was driven by the human penchant for animal feeding and that this process is not just continuing but accelerating, with consequences for global human-animal-environmental health.

This webinar will introduce the project, the team and outline the research positions that we are looking to recruit:

2 x PhDs on the history and policy of animal feeding, based at the University of Exeter.

3 x 3-year PDRAs in osteology. One based at the University of Exeter, one at the University of Reading and one at National Museums Scotland

2 x PhDs in osteology and isotope analysis. Based at the University of Reading, with co-supervision at Exeter.

1 x assistant curator (PT 3 years). Based at National Museums Scotland.

1 x PDRA in anthropology (3 years). Based at the University of Roehampton to explore the long history of human-cat relations.

2 x PhDs Based at the University of Roehampton, with co-supervision at Exeter. (i) an ethnographic study of the cultures and practices of feeding garden birds, (ii) an ethnographic study of feeding regimes in zoos.

Webinar: From "Feed the Birds" to "Do Not Feed the Animals"