C. M. Wathes

About

C. M. Wathes is a leading figure in animal behaviour and welfare science, with a particular focus on the responses of domestic poultry to environmental and predatory stimuli. Their research explores how animals assess threats, using visual signals and behavioural cues to inform safer, more humane animal–machine interactions. In a key study on domestic ducks (2001, 11 citations), Wathes investigated flock responses to mobile predator stimuli, such as a small vehicle and a walking human, revealing how flight distance and group dynamics shift under perceived danger. This work, alongside a companion study on ducklings (2000, 10 citations), provides foundational insights into threat assessment and the design of automated systems that minimise stress in livestock. Though citation counts are modest, Wathes’ contributions are highly influential in applied ethology, bridging animal cognition with practical welfare innovations. Their research has implications for poultry housing, handling, and the ethical development of agricultural robotics, making them a respected voice in the field of animal–technology interactions.

Research Focus

Key Achievements

Top Papers

1. 1
   Behaviour of domestic ducks exposed to mobile predator stimuli. 1. Flock responses

   11 citations · 2001
2. 2
   Threat assessment by domestic ducklings using visual signals: implications for animal–machine interactions

   10 citations · 2000

Key Collaborators

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