Alan McElligott
@amcell.bsky.social
Associate Prof, Animal Behaviour & Welfare-Hong Kong https://www.alanmcelligott.co.uk/ Animal behaviour, cognition, welfare; research ethics & integrity; environment; science; higher education; Diversity Equity Inclusion (DEI) advocate. 🌈🇮🇪 he/him 🐂 🐃🐐🐥 🦆
Pinned
Alan McElligott
@amcell.bsky.social
· Dec 2
New from us. 2025. Adaptive behavioural strategies to seasonal challenges by a semiurban feral ungulate. (Water buffalo) Led by @debottam1991.bsky.social www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Cow tool use - www.sciencefocus.com/news/cow-too...
A cow has been filmed using tools for the first time ever, stunning scientists | BBC Science Focus Magazine
A very clever cow has learned to use sticks to scratch herself, the first time sophisticated tool use has been seen in livestock
www.sciencefocus.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Cow tool use - www.sciencefocus.com/news/cow-too...
Outstanding in her field: cow recorded using tool for first time www.thetimes.com/article/8e48...
Outstanding in her field: cow recorded using tool for first time
Scientists have long thought cattle lacked the brains for problem-solving. An Austrian cow called Veronika has forced a rethink
www.thetimes.com
January 19, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Outstanding in her field: cow recorded using tool for first time www.thetimes.com/article/8e48...
Reposted by Alan McElligott
How can AI help translate research into real-world impact without compromising research integrity?
Strong endorsement for @ukrio.bsky.social's guidance in @hepi-news.bsky.social's latest policy note, setting out recommendations for researchers and organisations on how to harness AI responsibly.
Strong endorsement for @ukrio.bsky.social's guidance in @hepi-news.bsky.social's latest policy note, setting out recommendations for researchers and organisations on how to harness AI responsibly.
New Post: New HEPI Policy Note: Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Advance Translational Research www.hepi.ac.uk/2026/01/08/n...
January 15, 2026 at 2:59 PM
How can AI help translate research into real-world impact without compromising research integrity?
Strong endorsement for @ukrio.bsky.social's guidance in @hepi-news.bsky.social's latest policy note, setting out recommendations for researchers and organisations on how to harness AI responsibly.
Strong endorsement for @ukrio.bsky.social's guidance in @hepi-news.bsky.social's latest policy note, setting out recommendations for researchers and organisations on how to harness AI responsibly.
Reposted by Alan McElligott
After a period of inactivity, we are reactivating this account as a primary channel for connecting with the research community.
We'll be sharing new outputs, our latest guidance, and commentary on all things research integrity. Give us a follow and join the conversation💬
We'll be sharing new outputs, our latest guidance, and commentary on all things research integrity. Give us a follow and join the conversation💬
January 15, 2026 at 2:50 PM
After a period of inactivity, we are reactivating this account as a primary channel for connecting with the research community.
We'll be sharing new outputs, our latest guidance, and commentary on all things research integrity. Give us a follow and join the conversation💬
We'll be sharing new outputs, our latest guidance, and commentary on all things research integrity. Give us a follow and join the conversation💬
Reposted by Alan McElligott
📜 "Nature descriptions in folksongs, myths, and legends can help in understanding ecological histories of tropical savannas"
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/AhnI4Se
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/AhnI4Se
December 2, 2025 at 1:01 PM
📜 "Nature descriptions in folksongs, myths, and legends can help in understanding ecological histories of tropical savannas"
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/AhnI4Se
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/AhnI4Se
Reposted by Alan McElligott
🐾 "Good news for Hyena! 9/10 Namibian conservancy members don’t intend to kill them, even if they attack cattle. But people inside conservancies (90%) are more likely to intend to report #humanwildlifeconflicts than communal farmers outside (78%) - governance context matters!"
➡️ buff.ly/95P4Meo
➡️ buff.ly/95P4Meo
December 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM
🐾 "Good news for Hyena! 9/10 Namibian conservancy members don’t intend to kill them, even if they attack cattle. But people inside conservancies (90%) are more likely to intend to report #humanwildlifeconflicts than communal farmers outside (78%) - governance context matters!"
➡️ buff.ly/95P4Meo
➡️ buff.ly/95P4Meo
Reposted by Alan McElligott
Learn more about the need for effective management of native and non-native deer species in Scotland in our latest blogpost 🦌🌲
Scotland’s iconic Red deer threatened by invasive ‘super Sika’
Calum Brown and his team share their findings on managing native and non-native deer species in Scotland and discuss potential solutions. Scotland’s deer numbers are thought to be at an all-time hi…
buff.ly
December 3, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Learn more about the need for effective management of native and non-native deer species in Scotland in our latest blogpost 🦌🌲
Reposted by Alan McElligott
🍖 New research by Sackey et al. They analyze bushmeat preferences & consumption in northern Ghana using household surveys; species consumed & factors shaping preferences and protein intake #Bushmeat #Conservation
➡️ buff.ly/CCGmDNY
➡️ buff.ly/CCGmDNY
December 8, 2025 at 1:02 PM
🍖 New research by Sackey et al. They analyze bushmeat preferences & consumption in northern Ghana using household surveys; species consumed & factors shaping preferences and protein intake #Bushmeat #Conservation
➡️ buff.ly/CCGmDNY
➡️ buff.ly/CCGmDNY
Reposted by Alan McElligott
💡"First nationally representative survey of night-time light & dark: New-Zealanders rate safety/orientation benefits higher than benefits of darkness, depending on where they live. Findings call for balanced policy that recognises both"
📖 Read here ➡️ buff.ly/hqIGt55
📖 Read here ➡️ buff.ly/hqIGt55
December 9, 2025 at 11:01 AM
💡"First nationally representative survey of night-time light & dark: New-Zealanders rate safety/orientation benefits higher than benefits of darkness, depending on where they live. Findings call for balanced policy that recognises both"
📖 Read here ➡️ buff.ly/hqIGt55
📖 Read here ➡️ buff.ly/hqIGt55
Reposted by Alan McElligott
🐜"A large-scale survey across Japan shows that people who strongly dislike insects are less willing to buy organic vegetables, less supportive of pesticide-free farming, and more supportive of pesticide use"
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/dQxKQmk
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/dQxKQmk
December 10, 2025 at 11:01 AM
🐜"A large-scale survey across Japan shows that people who strongly dislike insects are less willing to buy organic vegetables, less supportive of pesticide-free farming, and more supportive of pesticide use"
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/dQxKQmk
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/dQxKQmk
Reposted by Alan McElligott
🐦 New research - 'Bird-basin' Hunting: Yao people, an ethnic minority in Guangxi, China, used the bird-basin hunting that had been practiced for 500 years, indirectly maintaining local bird diversity.
📖 Read the full paper here➡️ buff.ly/5V5CJzJ
📖 Read the full paper here➡️ buff.ly/5V5CJzJ
December 15, 2025 at 1:02 PM
🐦 New research - 'Bird-basin' Hunting: Yao people, an ethnic minority in Guangxi, China, used the bird-basin hunting that had been practiced for 500 years, indirectly maintaining local bird diversity.
📖 Read the full paper here➡️ buff.ly/5V5CJzJ
📖 Read the full paper here➡️ buff.ly/5V5CJzJ
Reposted by Alan McElligott
"Experts assessed how a reverse listing (RL) under CITES could affect the exotic pet trade. Uncertainty remains, especially on legal trade & livelihoods. Clearer RL goals & criteria are vital for better decisions" #WildlifeTrade #CITES
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/6NhvhAN
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/6NhvhAN
January 5, 2026 at 1:00 PM
"Experts assessed how a reverse listing (RL) under CITES could affect the exotic pet trade. Uncertainty remains, especially on legal trade & livelihoods. Clearer RL goals & criteria are vital for better decisions" #WildlifeTrade #CITES
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/6NhvhAN
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/6NhvhAN
Reposted by Alan McElligott
💧 Hydropower resettlement reshapes human–nature relationships: Insights from Southwestern China
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/cGfpHdP
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/cGfpHdP
January 7, 2026 at 11:01 AM
💧 Hydropower resettlement reshapes human–nature relationships: Insights from Southwestern China
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/cGfpHdP
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/cGfpHdP
Reposted by Alan McElligott
🌍 "Our Murcia (Spain) study shows 3 in 4 pupils have Nature Experience Deficit (<1 h/day outdoors). Connection drops with age, is higher in girls, and tracks inequality. Prioritise outdoor lessons and greener neighbourhoods now" #NatureConnection
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/xLaLsoF
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/xLaLsoF
January 8, 2026 at 1:00 PM
🌍 "Our Murcia (Spain) study shows 3 in 4 pupils have Nature Experience Deficit (<1 h/day outdoors). Connection drops with age, is higher in girls, and tracks inequality. Prioritise outdoor lessons and greener neighbourhoods now" #NatureConnection
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/xLaLsoF
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/xLaLsoF
Reposted by Alan McElligott
🎁 Deeper sociological insight needed for behaviour change: A systematic review of Chinese ivory consumption
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/SIwUAAw
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/SIwUAAw
January 14, 2026 at 11:01 AM
🎁 Deeper sociological insight needed for behaviour change: A systematic review of Chinese ivory consumption
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/SIwUAAw
📖 Read the full paper here ➡️ buff.ly/SIwUAAw
Reposted by Alan McElligott
🐃 New Research: Public attitudes and values regarding a semi-urban feral ungulate
"Studying public attitudes, e.g., regarding buffalo as agents for conservation, provides insights into social, cultural, and demographic factors"
➡️ buff.ly/PRpyWt5
"Studying public attitudes, e.g., regarding buffalo as agents for conservation, provides insights into social, cultural, and demographic factors"
➡️ buff.ly/PRpyWt5
July 29, 2025 at 9:01 AM
🐃 New Research: Public attitudes and values regarding a semi-urban feral ungulate
"Studying public attitudes, e.g., regarding buffalo as agents for conservation, provides insights into social, cultural, and demographic factors"
➡️ buff.ly/PRpyWt5
"Studying public attitudes, e.g., regarding buffalo as agents for conservation, provides insights into social, cultural, and demographic factors"
➡️ buff.ly/PRpyWt5
2026. Neonate mortality in mountain caribou: Patterns of predation during onset of a wolf reduction program - . wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
TWS Journals
We used an individual-based movement method, supported by camera trap data, to assess changes in neonate caribou mortality patterns before and after wolf reduction began in the Itcha-Ilgachuz mountai...
wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 19, 2026 at 6:18 AM
2026. Neonate mortality in mountain caribou: Patterns of predation during onset of a wolf reduction program - . wildlife.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10....
Reposted by Alan McElligott
Does anyone know a good YouTube link explaining leash aggression in dogs? There are many movies online but most are a bit rubbish.
January 17, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Does anyone know a good YouTube link explaining leash aggression in dogs? There are many movies online but most are a bit rubbish.
Reposted by Alan McElligott
Formosa Boulevard Station, Kaohsiung MRT
“Dome of Light” - Narcissus Quagliata
“Dome of Light” - Narcissus Quagliata
January 17, 2026 at 6:02 AM
Formosa Boulevard Station, Kaohsiung MRT
“Dome of Light” - Narcissus Quagliata
“Dome of Light” - Narcissus Quagliata
Reposted by Alan McElligott
Brought to you by facial recognition software by Peter Thiel and Palantir! (Fun fact: UK Palantir is run by the grandson of a famous English Fascist, Oswald Moseley)
January 17, 2026 at 5:13 AM
Brought to you by facial recognition software by Peter Thiel and Palantir! (Fun fact: UK Palantir is run by the grandson of a famous English Fascist, Oswald Moseley)
Reposted by Alan McElligott
Same-sex sexual behaviour is part of the normal social life of some primates and could play an important part in their long-term success
go.nature.com/4qNGo1I
go.nature.com/4qNGo1I
Same-sex sexual behaviour can help primates to survive — and reproduce
Bonds between same-sex individuals help apes and monkeys to manage conflict and strengthen alliances, especially in dry habitats and predator-rich landscapes.
go.nature.com
January 12, 2026 at 8:26 PM
Same-sex sexual behaviour is part of the normal social life of some primates and could play an important part in their long-term success
go.nature.com/4qNGo1I
go.nature.com/4qNGo1I
Reposted by Alan McElligott
My second PhD paper is out
What do we know about vocal communication of emotion between different species of terrestrial tetrapods? onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
I was lucky to work on this project with Elodie Briefer (@ebriefer.bsky.social), Katarzyna Pisanski and Florence Levrero.
What do we know about vocal communication of emotion between different species of terrestrial tetrapods? onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
I was lucky to work on this project with Elodie Briefer (@ebriefer.bsky.social), Katarzyna Pisanski and Florence Levrero.
What do we know about vocal communication of emotion between different species of terrestrial tetrapods?
Investigating how animals perceive and interpret emotional signals across a variety of species is essential for deepening our understanding of the complexities underlying animal communication and soc...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
January 15, 2026 at 8:23 PM
My second PhD paper is out
What do we know about vocal communication of emotion between different species of terrestrial tetrapods? onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
I was lucky to work on this project with Elodie Briefer (@ebriefer.bsky.social), Katarzyna Pisanski and Florence Levrero.
What do we know about vocal communication of emotion between different species of terrestrial tetrapods? onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
I was lucky to work on this project with Elodie Briefer (@ebriefer.bsky.social), Katarzyna Pisanski and Florence Levrero.
Does anyone know a good YouTube link explaining leash aggression in dogs? There are many movies online but most are a bit rubbish.
January 17, 2026 at 2:34 AM
Does anyone know a good YouTube link explaining leash aggression in dogs? There are many movies online but most are a bit rubbish.
Reposted by Alan McElligott
"So Clarivate, DOAJ, and other indexers and watchdogs, you know what to do. Cleanse the pool. Stop the PISS." And MDPI, stop the fraud 🤪
Go check their Special Issues Endogeny Explorer to know if your favourite journal is full of PISS: lnkd.in/eqhdxpCF arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563
Go check their Special Issues Endogeny Explorer to know if your favourite journal is full of PISS: lnkd.in/eqhdxpCF arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563
The Issue with Special Issues: when Guest Editors Publish in Support of Self
The recent exceptional growth in the number of special issues has led to the largest delegation of editorial power in the history of scientific publishing. Has this power been used responsibly? In thi...
arxiv.org
January 15, 2026 at 6:09 AM
"So Clarivate, DOAJ, and other indexers and watchdogs, you know what to do. Cleanse the pool. Stop the PISS." And MDPI, stop the fraud 🤪
Go check their Special Issues Endogeny Explorer to know if your favourite journal is full of PISS: lnkd.in/eqhdxpCF arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563
Go check their Special Issues Endogeny Explorer to know if your favourite journal is full of PISS: lnkd.in/eqhdxpCF arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563
Reposted by Alan McElligott
More reasons to entirely boycott MDPI journals
We've got ISSUES. Literally.
We scraped >100k special issues & over 1 million articles to bring you a PISS-poor paper. We quantify just how many excess papers are published by guest editors abusing special issues to boost their CVs. How bad is it & what can we do?
arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563
A 🧵 1/n
We scraped >100k special issues & over 1 million articles to bring you a PISS-poor paper. We quantify just how many excess papers are published by guest editors abusing special issues to boost their CVs. How bad is it & what can we do?
arxiv.org/abs/2601.07563
A 🧵 1/n
January 15, 2026 at 8:14 AM
More reasons to entirely boycott MDPI journals