Sophie Kovacs, 27, from Romiley in Stockport chose to study at University Centre Reaseheath (UCR) primarily for its unique curriculum and practical experiences offered through the on-site zoo at the Nantwich-based campus. “I knew that having a zoo on campus would help with practical experience,” she recalls, “and I chose to start with a foundation degree before topping it up to a full BSc.”

Sophie’s dissertation, which focused on exploring British tourists’ wildlife value orientations, was inspired by her travels to South Africa and Thailand.

“After visiting places where tourists participate in animal tourism, where they can have close encounters with a range of exotic animals such as tigers, elephants, and monkeys, I became aware of the concerning lack of regulation in these experiences,” she recalls.

“Many tourists are unaware of the bad welfare the animals may face, or they may choose to ignore it due to the country’s cultural beliefs and the fact they are on holiday.” Sophie theorised that while many people care for animals, they still participate in these experiences, often without understanding the implications.

To gather her data, Sophie designed a questionnaire based on Fulton and Manfredo’s Wildlife Value Orientation (WVO) framework and took to social media to distribute her questions.

“My questionnaire asked participants how much they agree with wildlife beliefs, such as ‘The needs of humans should take priority over fish and wild animal populations,’” she explains.

While her study did not directly address welfare concerns, she found that people who care for animals are still inclined to participate in close encounters, revealing a disconnect between their ethical beliefs and tourism activities. “I found that while tourists may hold caring beliefs and strong social affiliations with wildlife, the way they express these values through tourism activities may not consistently align with their ethical principles,” she said.

Sophie faced challenges throughout her dissertation journey, but found support in her dissertation supervisor, Becx Whitefield. “Becx always helped with any questions I had and made sure I was on the correct lines,” she says.

Despite the challenges, Sophie believes she developed essential skills during her time at UCR. “I learned how to collect data ethically, read scientific articles properly, and infer and compare their data to my own,” she says. “I also learned how to use R Studio, which will be important if I decide to pursue a master’s or further research.” She feels that UCR has prepared her well for her professional journey. “UCR prepared me to write research proposals, stick to deadlines, and collaborate with other students and lecturers.”

Sophie’s dissertation was highly regarded, earning her an impressive score of 81%.

Ellie Rose, Programme Leader for Animal Sciences, said: “Sophie produced a very well-written dissertation, which demonstrated a thorough grasp of statistical analysis, together with an astute understanding of the topic. She presented her results clearly and integrated a wide range of quality references.”